Is Social Media Scientifically Impacting The Brain of Users

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Alumni Advisory Board

Abhiram Chennupati, University of California, Berkeley
Shivam Jain, Duke University
Tom Jeong, Georgia Institute of Technology
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Nicholas Papciak, University of Georgia
Shawn Park, Carnegie Mellon University
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Ramin Ahmadoghlu, Ph.D. Annie Nelson, Ph.D.
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Verba volant, scripta manent
Volume 2 Number 2 Spring 2023
Editors-in Chief
Ishwar Haridh Nyla Hussain Rohan Movva
Hiba Shaikh Krishna Suresh Kevin Yuan
Managing Editor
Sofia Vishnyakova
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Isha Patkar Kai Robertson Alexander Rutten
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Tomi Akinsanmi Nikita Kasivajjala Zehra Ozdemir
Fatima Awan Ankita Kaul Srihari Padmanabhan
Rishabh Biry Yujun Paul Kim Matthew Patkowski
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Zachary Cullinane Alexandra Kuligowski Jasmin Singh
Arsul Dhatwani Daniel Lei Ganiv Tuleja
Brooks Dickson Yihe Angela Li Sofia Vishnyaova
Andrew Francesconi Sophie Liu Richard Burnside Wheeler
Saketh Guttapalli Akshay Maheshwari Jehan Webb
Articles
Conflict in the Crimea Through the Eyes of the Onlooker: Socio- 1

Political Causes
Alexander Rutten
Is Social Media Scientifically Impacting the Brain of Users? 23

Dayanna Gonzalez
Understanding the Psychology of Suicide and Suicidal Behavior 29

Fatima Awan
How Player Winning Rates and Average Cards to Bust are 39

Affected by Incremented Decks in Blackjack
Kevin Yuan & Karina Shah
Circular Economy in Developing Countries: Chile and India Cases 52

Sofia Vishnyakova
SCRIPTA
Volume 2, Number 2, Spring 2023
ISSN: 2769-9242 Spring 2023
Conflict in the Crimea Through the

Eyes of the Onlooker: Socio-Political
Causes
Alexander Rutten∗
Abstract
Rarely in history does a war upset the geo-political hierarchy and alter
the balance of power of nearly an entire continent as the Crimean War.
A culmination of decades worth of religious strife and heated sectional
tension, the conflict’s legacy reaches far past its almost 500,000 total ca-
sualties and the atmosphere of its aftermath continues to linger in and
influence today’s political landscape, nearly 150 years after the blood-
shed. This paper will examine the socio-political causes at play among
the inhabitants of belligerent nations and the region over which the war
was fought, aiming to paint a more complete picture of the lead-up to one
of history’s most misunderstood wars through the eyes of the onlooker
and historians.
1 The Holy Sepulchre

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is one of the most important religious sites
for Christians worldwide. Located in the northwest quarter of the Old City of
Jerusalem, Israel, it was built nearly two centuries ago in 335 C.E. by the Ro-
man Emperor Constantine the Great. The church is jointly controlled by several
Christian denominations, including the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and
Armenian Apostolic churches. Within its walls, Calvary, the site of Jesus’ cruci-
fixion, and Edicule, his empty tomb, are housed. These two sites are of immense
∗ Sophomore Student, Fulton Science Academy.
Contact: ruttena@fultonscienceacademy.org
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significance to Christians, as they represent the death, burial, and resurrection

of Jesus Christ.
Figure 1: Jon Arnold. An aerial view of the Holy Sepulchre and the Old Quarter.
In the public domain.
The Holy Sepulchre has a long and tumultuous history, having been torched
by the Sassanids in 614 and sacked by Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah
before being rebuilt. It has endured to the modern day despite its tumultuous
past and remains a site of great significance in the various conflicts between
Christians and Muslims in the Holy Land. The church has also been the site
of numerous internal disputes between di↵erent Christian sects, including the
Greek Orthodox, East Orthodox, Franciscans, and Roman Catholic, which have
caused divisions and strife.
During the period in which the Sepulchre was under Ottoman control, ten-
sions between di↵erent Christian sects were more divisive and violent than ever.
For instance, Easter in 1846 fell on the same date in the Gregorian and Julian
calendars, leading to a collapse in the fragile balance between Christian pilgrims.
When Catholic priests arrived on Easter morning, they found that the Greeks
had beaten them to the altar. Figes writes that the “Catholics demanded to see
the Greek’s firman, their decree from the Sultan in Constantinople, empowering
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Figure 2: Oded Balility. An overhead view of the Edicule. In the public domain.
them to place their silk cloth on the altar first. The Greeks demanded to see
the Latins’ firman allowing them to remove it” (Figes 2012, p. 2). This led to
a violent encounter as pilgrims and priests from both sides fought with cruci-
fixes, lamps, chandeliers, knives, and daggers. Nearly forty worshippers were
left dead.
British traveler and sociologist Harriet Martineau documented the chaos
that erupted in 1846 in her three-volume piece, Eastern Life: Present and Past.
She notes Jerusalem is the most sacred place in the world, except Mekkeh, to
the Mohammedan: and to the Christian and the Jew, it is the most sacred
place in the world. . . What are they doing in this sanctuary of their common
Father, as they all declare it to be? Here are the Mohammedans eager to
kill any Jew or Christian who may enter the Mosque of Omar. There are the
Greeks and Latin Christians hating each other, and ready to kill any Jew or
Mohammedan who may enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. And here
are the Jews, pleading against their enemies, in the vengeful language of their
ancient prophets. (Martineau, 1848, p. 380)
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2 Religious Fervor and Competition

In the 1820s and 1830s, the rise of the railroad and steamship industries made
it possible for an unprecedented number of people to travel to the Holy Land
whenever they wished. As a result, there was a surge of pilgrims belonging to
various religious sects, including French, English, Italian, Prussian, Armenian,
Serbian, Moldavian, Bulgarian, Greek, Austrian, Russian, and Ethiopian Chris-
tians. The influx of these tour groups led to intense competition among the
religious orders to gain control over the Holy Places and the Sepulchre. Figes
notes that “between 1842 and 1847, there was a flurry of activity in Jerusalem”
(Figes, 2012, p. 3). For instance, between 1842 and 1847, there was a flurry of
activity in Jerusalem, with various religious groups establishing their presence.
The Anglicans established a bishopric and diocese in the Old City quarter, while
Pope Pius IX appointed a Latin patriarch for the first time since the Crusades.
The Greek patriarch strengthened his hold over the Orthodox Patriarchate, and
the Austrians set up a Franciscan printing press that is still in operation today.
Eager to expand their influence in Jerusalem, the Russians established an eccle-
siastical mission in Jerusalem in 1847 to oversee the 15,000 Orthodox pilgrims
that traveled annually to the Holy Places for Easter celebrations. However, for
the Orthodox, pilgrimage to the Holy Places was not just a leisurely activity,
but a means of experiencing Christ personally. No territorial boundaries or ju-
risdictional restrictions, the reasoning went, ought to interfere with thousands
of years of Russian Orthodox pilgrimage to the Holy Places–for all Orthodox
felt a genuine connection to a “higher spiritual authority.” Such ideas of the
Holy Places forming a bridge between Holy Russia and the Spirit permeated
the thought of Russian theologians at the time. The concept of a Holy Russia
developed along the philosophy that, in the words of Kapral Hilarion, “in order
to be a genuine Russian, one must first become Orthodox and live a life in the
Church, as did our forebears, the founders of Holy Russia!” (Hilarion, 2013, par.
3). This was a uniquely Russian sentiment. No Frenchman or Englishman, no
Protestant or Catholic, Anglican or Franciscan, could fathom such an intimate
religious connection to a mere building. Rather, they regarded the Holy Places
as mere places of “historical interest and romantic interest rather than religious
devotion” (Figes, 2012, p. 4). The Russian and Greek Orthodox traditions were
often regarded with disdain by Catholics and Protestants, who were repulsed by
their perceived ”barbaric” practices and intense displays of religious devotion.
For example, Martineau refused to witness the washing of feet with holy water
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by Orthodox pilgrims at the Holy Sepulchre on Good Friday,“I could not go to

witness mummeries done in the name of Christianity compared with which the
lowest fetishism on the banks of an African river would have been ino↵ensive”
(Martineau, 1848, p. 320).
Martineau refused to attend the lighting of the Holy Fire on Eastern Sat-
urday: Miraculous flames used to shoot out, red and green, from apertures on
each side of and behind the altar; and the pilgrims rushed to light their torches,
throwing each other down, and trampling to death more or fewer who could not
stand the rush. (Martineau, 1848, p. 321) The pilgrims, typically rival Ortho-
dox groups such as Bulgarians, Russians, and Serbians, would be so consumed
with religious fanaticism and desperation to light their torch with the Holy Fire
that they would rather risk their lives than back down.
Violent incidents resulting from religious zealotry became more frequent dur-
ing important Orthodox celebrations, causing many Catholics and Protestants
to view the Orthodox as unchristian and sympathize more with Muslims. These
incidents shaped Western policies towards Russia during the diplomatic conflicts
over the Holy Places, ultimately leading to war. The behavior of the Orthodox
was regarded by the French and English as barbaric and in stark contrast to the
peaceful and tolerant nature of true Christianity. These negative perceptions
were fueled by the increasingly violent scenes of bloodshed.
3 Tensions in the Holy Land

The influx of Russian pilgrims into the Holy Lands alarmed British officials
stationed in Jerusalem. Notably, William Tanner Young, a British consul whose
goal was to expand British influence in the region, “sent regular reports to
the Foreign Office about the steady build-up of Russian agents” in Jerusalem”
amid a time when the Russian ecclesiastical mission exerted its influence in the
region by funding the construction of churches, schools, and hostels (Talbot
et al., 2020). However, it was the French, not the British, who were most
distraught by the prospect of greater Russian control over the Holy Lands.
The French were granted the right to establish, the French Consulate General
of Jerusalem, appoint consuls in the Ottoman Empire in 1535, and given a
special status to protect their citizens and Catholic Christians who resided or
traded in the Ottoman Empire and Holy Land. King Louis XIII appointed Jean
Lempereur as the first Consul-General, but the local Muslim population did
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Figure 3: Todd Bolen. (2009). Church of Holy Sepulcher, feet washing ceremony
[Photograph]. The American Colony and Eric Matson Collection. CC-BY-NC.
not take kindly to this. Lempereur was embarrassingly detained and deported
to Damascus, and many subsequent French Consul-Generals were likewise ill-
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Figure 4: Todd Bolen. (2009). Church of Holy Sepulcher, pilgrims with Holy
Fire [Photograph]. The American Colony and Eric Matson Collection. CC-BY-
NC.
received. Nonetheless, the French still had a much larger stake in the Holy Land
than the British, who at the time only had a small diocese and a single Anglican
church in the region. Additionally, the French connection to the Holy Land went
back hundreds of years to the days of the Crusades. Eager to protect what they
perceived as their natural rights to the Holy Land, the French were ready to
undertake drastic measures to ensure Latin pilgrimage and access to the Holy
Places. Amidst these tensions, the Latins and the Orthodox began to squabble
more and more over minute details in the Holy Places at both the Church of
the Holy Sepulchre and the Church of the Nativity. The Church of the Nativity,
located atop the ancient set of caves known as the Grotto of the Nativity where
Jesus was supposedly born, was a frequent battleground. In 1717, the French
placed a fourteen-point star with the inscription ”Here Jesus Christ was born
one of the Virgin Mary” on the floor of the Grotto, as evident by the tricolor
inscribed into it. However, in 1847, the star was stolen, “the tools used to
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wrench it from the marble floor were abandoned at the site” (Figes, 2012, p. 6).
Figure 5: Adapted from Roberto Morgenthaler. Modern-day replacement of the

14-point star stolen from the floor of the Holy Sepulchre in 1847. In the public
domain.
The theft of the lead from the roof of the Holy Sepulchre caused a diplomatic
uproar between the Catholic and Greek Orthodox communities. The Catholics
immediately accused the Greek Orthodox monks of the crime and lodged a com-
plaint with the Ottoman regional government, the Sublime Porte. Meanwhile,
the French, who claimed the keys to the Church at Bethlehem, argued that they
had the right to repair the damaged roof, which was in dire need of attention.
Both the Greeks and the Latins accused each other of stripping the lead o↵ one
side of the roof. However, under Turkish law, the owner of a house’s roof was
considered to be the owner of the house itself (Figes, 2012, p.7). Theft of the
star from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem escalated into a bitter con-
test between Catholics and Greek Orthodox over control of the Holy Sepulchre.
The outcome hinged on winning the favor of the Ottoman regional government,
which had the power to decide the dispute. In making its case to the Porte for
the Orthodox side, Russia cited the 1774 Treaty of Kuchuk Kainarji, which they
believed had granted them “a right to act as protector of Ottoman Christians”
(Davison, 1976, p. 465). The treaty gave Russia, among other things, “privi-
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leges for an expanded commerce that could now move freely on the Black Sea
and through the Straits into the Mediterranean, as well as by land in Ottoman
domains” and the “right to permanent and prominent diplomatic representa-
tion in the Ottoman capital of Istanbul,” but did not explicitly state a Russian
right to represent the Orthodox Christians of the Ottoman Empire (Davison,
1976, p. 465). Historians are not entirely in agreement on whether the treaty
promised Russia the aforementioned right, and referencing a backwater treaty
used to settle a war that took place nearly 70 years earlier did not appear to
be an appropriate way to settle the dispute in the eyes of the Catholics. The
Porte, not wishing to take sides, did not o↵er a clear conclusion on the matter.
Nevertheless, the diplomatic ramifications of the Catholic protest were only yet
to take into full force.
4 Russian Expansionism
Ascending to the title of Tsar in 1692, Pyotr Alekseyevich–better known as
Peter the Great–set in motion a sway in the European balance of power in
the early 18th century. Instituting a program of radical Westernization, Peter
required his state, royal, court, and military officials to adopt Western cloth-
ing and pay a hefty tax if they wished to keep their traditional long beards
and robes. Additionally, Peter began an industrialization e↵ort, revitalized the
Russian economy by propping up the mining and lumber industries, and hired
German and Italian architects to design Russia’s new capital: St. Petersburg
(Blackwell, 1968, p. 293). One of Peter the Great’s most significant contribu-
tions to Russian history was his pursuit of an aggressive expansionist policy to
secure a warm-water port on the Black Sea, which was then under the control of
the Ottoman Empire. This was in stark contrast to the cold-water ports of the
Baltic Sea, which were under the control of Sweden.Russia’s intense religious
motivation, in which it considered itself the protector of all Eastern Orthodox
Christians, resulted in a series of Russo-Turkish Wars spanning from 1686 to
1877 foThese wars were fought over control of the Pontic steppe of Eastern and
Southern Ukraine, also known as the Wild Fields, which the Porte viewed as
a crucial bu↵er zone between the Ottoman Empire and the expanding ”Rus-
sian menace” n 1699, Peter’s newly-reformed army defeated the Ottomans, giv-
ing him the opportunity to demand from the Turks” a guarantee of the Greek
Rights at the Holy Sepulchre and free access for all Russians to the Holy Lands”
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(Figes, 2012, p. 11). During the Russo-Turkish War of 1710-1711, Peter the
Great ordered his army to invade the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia
(present-day Romania) where the strategically-important Danubian delta lay.
He had hoped to inspire a Danubian uprising against the Ottoman forces, but
nothing of the sort materialized. However, Peter’s insistence on branding con-
flict with the Ottomans as an “Orthodox crusade” in search of the rights of all
Orthodox to freely access the Holy Places influenced Russia’s foreign policy for
years to come, well into the reign of Nicholas I. Moreover, Peter’s hopes that
the Danubian principalities would rise up against the Ottomans remained a core
idea of tsarist policy and greatly influenced the actions of Catherine the Great,
empress of Russia from 1762-1796. Catherine the Great continued Peter’s ex-
pansionist policies and defeated the Ottomans in the war of 1768-1774, securing
a stretch of the Black Sea coastline known as Yedisan, the Kabardino region of
the Northern Caucasus, and the warm-water ports of Kerch and Enikale, among
other territories. The Treaty of Kuchuk Kainarji, which ended the war, granted
Russian shipping vessels free passage through the Dardanelles,Kainarji, which
would later come to play a significant role in the French and Russian dispute
to the Porte. Russia was granted a stretch of the Black Sea coastline called
Yedisan situated between the Dnieper and Bug rivers, the Kabardino region of
the Northern Caucasus, the warm-water ports of Kerch and Enikale along the
interjection of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, and annexed territories be-
longing to the Crimean Khanate, an Ottoman vassal state (Taki, 2015, p. 12).
Russian shipping vessels were granted free passage through the strategically-
important Dardanelles–Ottoman-controlled straits connecting the Black Sea to
the Mediterranean.
The most significant outcome of the Treaty of Kuchuk Kainarji was Russia’s
right to intervene in Ottoman a↵airs under the guise of being the ”protector
of the Orthodox.”Catherine did not attempt to push further and extract more
from the treaty as it would draw unwanted attention from the Western pow-
ers, who backed the Ottoman Empire as a way of keeping the Russian menace
in check. She did, however, dream of “recreating the old Byzantine Empire
on the ruins of the Ottoman” and frequently corresponded with Austrian Em-
peror Joseph II about a plan to expel the Ottomans from Europe and divide
the Balkan territories and principalities between the two empires (Figes, 2012,
p. 13). No shared Russo-Austrian dissection of the Ottoman Empire ever oc-
curred (ironically, it was the English and French who later pieced the empire
apart for themselves), but Catherine remained focused on the Black Sea. Slowly,
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Figure 6: From “International and particular straits regime.” The Dardanelles

and the Bosphorus. In public domain.
Russia tightened its hold over Crimea, expelled the Tatars, and shaped Odesa
into a major Black Sea port–bringing it one step closer to domination over the
“sick man of Europe.” The gradual expansion of the Russian empire was closely
followed by the British, who held a significant stake in the Eastern Mediter-
ranean. As the decades passed, the British became increasingly frightened at
the prospect of the Russian menace devouring its hard-earned territory in In-
dia, or perhaps lashing out at Scandinavia and even attacking Western Europe.
These fears were propagated by populist politicians, the most notable being
David Urquhart. Urquhart railed against Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston’s
emphasis on de-escalating European conflict and maintaining the status quo.
Historian Margaret Lamb notes “that “in the 1830s one man and his collabo-
rators were largely responsible for the initial surge of Russophobia. That man
was David Urquhart” (Lamb, 1981, p. 330). “The policy of Russia,” wrote
Urquhuart in the Morning Herald in 1838, “has long been impregnated with the
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spirit of deadly hostility to England” (Lamb, 1981, p. 331). Known for his out-
spoken opinions, he famously asserted that Lord Palmerston was a foreign agent
bribed by Russia, a view shared by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Despite
their agreement on Palmerston, Marx disliked Urquhart and only valued his per-
spective on this particular issue. Nevertheless, Urquhart became a major voice
in the spread of British Russophobia, and even published his own periodical,
The Portfolio, in 1835 (Figes, 2012, p. 75). Through strong political connec-
tions, Urquhart pushed his way into becoming secretary of the British embassy
in Constantinople and engineered numerous diplomatic scandals such as the
Vixen incident to compel Great Britain to declare war on Russia (Figes, 2012,
p. 76). Palmerston withstood the pressure, but Urquhart’s widespread influence
was evident. Spreading his Russophobic views through his various periodicals
(he published more than just The Portfolio), Urquhart gained a large following.
The assertion that Palmerston was receiving bribes from Russia gained traction
in The Times, a prominent British newspaper that had significant sway over the
views of the middle class.Urquhart gained such a large following, in fact, that
he was even elected to the House of Commons in 1847, where he continued to
rail against Palmerston, Russia, and all those who opposed him. His widespread
popularity in the House of Commons was undeniable. Continuing the assault
against Palmerston, “he even led a campaign to impeach Palmerston for his
failures to pursue a more aggressive policy against Russia,” writes Figes (Figes,
2012, p. 77). Palmerston, for the time being, remained dead set on maintaining
the status quo and preventing escalation, but public opinion on the matter was
shifting. Europe grew increasingly anxious about Russia, with popular pam-
phlets circulating throughout the continent expressing the fears and concerns
shared by Western Europe at the time, and reaching hundreds of thousands
of readers. The Russian military’s recent success in putting down the Polish
November Uprising added to concerns about the country’s growing military
power and contributed to “anxieties about the rapid growth and military power
of Russia” (Figes, 2012, p. 88). As many argued that Nicholas I wished to unite
all the Slavs and become emperor of the Balkans, Western fears “of pan-Slavism
focused specifically on the Balkans, where Russian influence seemed to be on the
rise” (Figes, 2012, p. 89). Spurred on by Serbian Slavophiles who practically
begged Nicholas to intervene in support of the pan-Slav and Orthodox cause,
Russia began a series of Balkan interventions, first with the occupation of the
Danubian principalities and the suppression of the Wallachian Revolution of
1848, and secondly with the intervention of the Hungarian Revolution in 1849
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(Florescu, 1963, 1). Nicholas, however, stood strong in his affirmation that he
was opposed to any pan-Slav or nationalist movement. His intervention in the
Balkans was, in his eyes, a mixture of preemptive action and religious motiva-
tion. Nicholas, on one hand, intervened so as to prevent the Western powers
from doing so and turning the Orthodox nations into Western-oriented enemies
of Russia. On the other hand, he also intervened to safeguard the interests of the
smaller Orthodox nations and did not shy away from encouraging the national-
ist sympathies of the Romanians and Serbians. Publicly, Nicholas deemed the
pan-Slavs as dangerous radicals, but privately, starting somewhere during the
course of the 1840s, began to somewhat sympathize with their ideology. Mikhail
Pogodin, a professor at Moscow University and a lead pan-Slav ideologist of the
time, frequently corresponded with the tsar, attempting to sway his mind in
favor of supporting the Slavs. Pogodon wrote to Nicholas in 1842: Here is our
purpose–Russian, Slavic, European, Christian! As Russians, we must capture
Constantinople for our own security. As Slavs, we must liberate millions of our
older kinsmen, brothers in faith, educators, and benefactors. As Europeans, we
must drive out the Turks. As Orthodox Christians, we must protect the Eastern
Church and return to St. Sophia its ecumenical cross. (Riasanovsky, 1959, p.
166) Pogodin wrote to Nicholas again in 1853 to share his grievances with the
tsar and show him how Russia was misunderstood by the West. France takes
Algeria from Turkey, and almost every year England annexes another Indian
principality: none of this disturbs the balance of power; but when Russia occu-
pies Moldavia and Wallachia, albeit only temporarily, that disturbs the balance
of power. France occupies Rome and stays there several years during peacetime:
that is nothing; but Russia only thinks of occupying Constantinople, and the
peace of Europe is threatened. The English declare war on the Chinese, who
have, it seems, o↵ended them: no one has the right to intervene; but Russia
is obliged to ask Europe for permission if it quarrels with its neighbor. Eng-
land threatens Greece to support the false claims of a miserable Jew and burns
its fleet: that is a lawful action; but Russia demands a treaty to protect mil-
lions of Christians, and that is deemed to strengthen its position in the East
at the expense of the balance of power. We can expect nothing from the West
but blind hatred and malice.... (comment in the margin by Nicholas I: ’This
is the whole point’). (Figes, 2012, p. 134) Nicholas remained exposed to the
idea of pan-Slavism through various court officials and continued correspon-
dence with Pogodin. While he officially remained opposed to the idea, he likely
sympathized with it privately and perhaps even let it control his foreign policy
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in the following years. Nicholas’ intervention in the Balkan principalities and

later in Hungary alienated nearly the entire British public and even managed to
sway Palmerston to mobilize and send the Royal Navy to the Dardanelles. The
British public and press cheered on Palmerston when he decided to mobilize
the Royal Navy at the news of the Russian intervention. They celebrated a for-
eign policy centered around intervention anywhere in the world in the defense
of British liberal values and sympathized with the Hungarian and Romanian
refugees who fled the Russian menace and its tyrannical tsar. As the French
and British fleets arrived in the Dardanelles, the two nations unified in support
of the principalities and the Ottoman Empire and their opposition to Russia,
tensions were exceptionally high. “The Tsar instructed Admiral Putyatin to
prepare for a surprise attack on the Dardanelles in the event of another crisis
over Russia’s presence in the principalities,” but Palmerston backed down from
a conflict, and the allied fleets were sent away (Figes, 2012, p. 99). Stratford
Canning, ambassador to Constantinople, and Palmerston became increasingly
attached to the idea of strengthening Ottoman sovereignty and dominion over
the The European powers aimed to minimize the tsar’s e↵orts to undermine
the Ottoman Empire by taking steps to prevent his invasion of the Danubian
principalities or coercion of the Porte to settle the Holy Lands dispute. They
believed that such actions by the tsar could lead to the outbreak of war, hence
the need to take precautionary measures.
5 French Escalation
The July Monarchy, which began with the July Revolution of 1830, lasted until
the year of European revolutions in 1848. King Louis-Philippe declared himself
as the Roi des Français (”King of the French”) instead of the traditional ”King
of France,” emphasizing his popularity among the people and the support he
received from the masses.The King, in an e↵ort to avoid o↵ending either the
conservative supporters of the previous king, Charles X (the last of the Bourbon
monarchs and the Bourbon Restoration of 1814-1830), or the left-wing radicals
who advocated for complete democracy and a return to the French republic,
adopted the motto of juste milieu, or ”middle-of-the-road” (Antonetti, 1994, p.
713). Louis-Philippe, initially well-loved for his populist policies and conquest
of Algeria, lost favor among the public precisely due to his overly centrist mind-
set and refusal to reform the electoral system, which had become increasingly
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corrupt in recent years. Protests gave way to violence, and the king was forced
to abdicate after 18 years on the throne, giving way to the creation of the Sec-
ond French Republic. French peasants, having been granted universal su↵rage,
elected Napoleon Bonaparte’s nephew, Louis-Napoleon, the man of the people,
to the Presidency in the 1848 election. In hindsight, it may not have been the
wisest decision for the French to elect someone with the last name Napoleon,
given the history of erratic despots seeking dictatorial power. However, France
had become a republic, and Louis-Napoleon was elected as their representative.
On December 2nd, 1851, facing the possibility of leaving office and trans-
ferring power, and coinciding with the anniversary of Napoleon I’s coronation
as emperor, Louis-Napoleon staged a coup d’état that dissolved the short-lived
Second Republic. This move resulted in the arrest of party members, the disso-
lution of the National Assembly, and the granting of dictatorial powers to the
president (Price, 2002, p. 34).
The return of a French emperor sparked fears of a Napoleonic revival among
the great powers of Europe. Britain recalled its Lisbon Squadron to guard
the English Channel, and the future commander of the British forces in the
Crimea campaign, Lord Raglan, planned out the defense of London in the event
of a French attack. The Tsar “wanted him [Napoleon] to make a humiliat-
ing disclaimer of any aggressive plans, and promised Austria 60,00 troops if it
was attacked by France,” in line with Count Buol, Austrian Foreign Minister
(Figes, 2012, p. 101). The latter demanded Napoleon declare his peaceful in-
tentions. Establishing the Second French Empire in his speech at Bordeaux,
Louis-Napoleon declared that A spirit of distrust leads certain persons to say
that the empire means war. I say, the empire means peace. France longs for
peace, and if France is satisfied the world is tranquil. Glory is rightly handed
down hereditarily, but not war. (Bonaparte, 1852, p. 1) There was, however,
reason to be mistrustful of Louis-Napoleon. Louis-Napoleon’s intentions may
have always been to upset the existing balance of power in favor of France,
much like his uncle had attempted to do 40 years earlier. Napoleon I, who was
revered by his people for his military victories, loyal leadership, and reforms,
had his imperial ambitions thwarted during his ill-fated 1812 invasion of Russia.
Russia emerged as the obstacle in the French Empire’s path, and removing this
obstacle would be the only way for Louis-Napoleon to restore national pride
to France. Figes notes that The conflict in the Holy Lands served as a means
of reuniting France after the divisions of 1848-9. The revolutionary Left could
be reconciled to the coup d’etat and the Second Empire if it was engaged in a
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patriotic fight for liberty against the ‘gendarme of Europe.’ As for the Catholic
Right, it had long been pushing for a crusade against the Orthodox heresy that
was threatening Christendom and French civilization. (Figes, 2012, p. 102).
To unify the French people behind his regime, Louis-Napoleon exploited the
trend of blaming Orthodox Russia for France’s problems. This strategy re-
quired a common enemy for the French people to rally against and support the
president. Thus, he appointed the extreme Catholic Marquis de Lavalette as
ambassador to Constantinople, a member of a highly influential lobbying group
at the French Foreign Ministry. Duc de Persigny, Minister of the Interior, wrote
scathingly of Lavallette’s exploits. “Our foreign policy was often troubled by
a clerical lobby which wormed its way into the secret recesses of the Foreign
Ministry. The 2 December had not succeeded in dislodging it. On the contrary,
it became even more audacious, profiting from our preoccupation with domes-
tic matters to entangle our diplomacy in the complications of the Holy Places,
where it hailed its infantile successes as national triumphs. (Persigny, 1896,
p. 225) The lobbying group’s interference was so significant that Lavalette’s
exaggeration of the importance of the Holy Places began to take center stage in
the Foreign Ministry. His “aggressive proclamation that the Latin right to the
Holy Places had been ‘clearly established,’ backed up by his threat of using the
French navy to support these claims against Russia, was greeted with approval
by the ultra-Catholic press in France” (Figes, 2012, p. 103). Napoleon him-
self was of a more moderate disposition, but he understood that his legitimacy
as emperor rested on Catholic opinion. He did not restrain Lavalette and let
him continue pressuring the Sultan into minute concessions for Catholics in the
Holy Places. Even after Napoleon was forced to recall Lavalette in 1852 due
to complaints by British Foreign Secretary Lord Malmesbury, the pressure on
the Ottomans to make concessions in the Holy Places in hopes of provoking the
Tsar into launching a European conflict, and thus forcing Britain to ally itself
with France, continued to dominate French foreign policy.
In 1852, the Sultan, Abdulmecid I, caved. The Porte granted Catholics the
right to hold a key to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, which gave
them permanent access to the sacred Chapel of the Manger and the Grotto.
The Tsar, understandably furious, mobilized 128,000 troops for an attack on
Constantinople and a wider Danubian campaign. Nicholas, with the support of
the members of his court, published a memorandum in 1852 detailing his plans
for the partition of the Ottoman Empire and the occupation of the Danubian
principalities. The Tsar was under the impression that he had the support of the
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British and could rely on them to intervene and restrain the French whenever
necessary to uphold Russia’s treaty rights in the Holy Places.
Nicholas set out to convince the British that the time was ripe for the par-
tition of the Ottoman Empire by conversing with Lord Seymour, the current
British ambassador to Russia stationed in St. Petersburg. He referred to the
Ottoman Empire as the “sick man of Europe” and doubly underscored the sig-
nificance of a joint Russian and British partition in order to prevent the French
from undermining the empire’s sovereignty. Seymour was not opposed to the
Tsar’s plans and even seemed to welcome them. Writing to Foreign Secretary
Lord John Russell, Seymour argued that it would seem logical for the two Eu-
ropean powers “most interested in the destinies of Turkey” to partition the Ot-
toman Empire and restore Christianity to the forefront of the balance of power
(Cunningham, 1993, p. 136). Despite the fact that many members of Par-
liament and Lord Aberdeen’s government, including Russell, did not support
the idea of supporting the Ottomans while they were persecuting Christians,
Nicholas believed that he had the ear of the British government. In 1853, he
dispatched an envoy to Constantinople to restore Russia’s rights in and access
to the Holy Places, even though it was uncertain whether Britain would support
him. The envoy was Prince Alexander Menshikov, a veteran of the Russo-Turkc
War of 1828-9. A stern, experienced 65-year-old man with a highly independent
character, Menshikov earned the liking of Seymour, although the latter did pick
up on the veteran’s disposition. “If it were necessary to send a military man
to Constantinople the Emperor could hardly have made a better selection. . .
than he has done; it is however impossible not to reflect that the choice of a
soldier has in itself a certain significance, and that should a negotiation. . . prove
ine↵ectual, the negotiator may readily become the commander who has author-
ity to call in 100,000 soldiers and to place himself at their head” (Seymour to
Russell).
Menshikov set out with instructions to Demand from the Sultan the nulli-
fication of the November ruling [referring to the 1852 Ottoman ruling granting
Catholics privileges] in favor of the Catholics, the restoration of Greek privi-
leges in the Holy Sepulchre, and reparation in the form of a formal convention
or sened that would guarantee the treaty rights of Russia (supposedly dating
back to the 1774 Treaty of Kuchuk Kainarji) to represent the Orthodox not just
in the Holy Lands but throughout the Ottoman Empire. (Figes, 2012, p. 108)
Should the French bar Orthodox access to the Holy Places, in particular the
Holy Sepulchre, Menshikov was instructed to propose a defensive pact between
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Russia and the Ottoman Empire as a part of which Russia would pledge a fleet
and nearly 400,000 troops for the Sultan to call on. The chances of success
were very slim as it was unlikely that the Ottomans would agree to the sened,
which practically rendered the empire a Russian protectorate. Additionally,
Menshikov’s behavior alienated the Turkish ministers in charge of the Ottoman
side of the procedures. His continued strong-arming and bullying combined with
his never-ending threats of Russia breaking o↵ relations with the Porte made
them more inclined to turn to the British and the French. Despite Russell’s
insistence on military intervention, the British cabinet refused to send a fleet to
the Aegean Sea after receiving information about the events, as they believed
that the French had provoked the Russians and that the Tsar had peaceful in-
tentions.The French cabinet also refused to send a fleet, unless the British sent
one first, in fear of it being interpreted as an act of “Napoleonic aggression.”
Persigny, however, firmly believed that the British would join the French by
their side if they were to send a fleet. After being convinced by Persigny’s argu-
ment that the matter was not only about curbing Russian aggression but also
restoring national honor, Napoleon decided to dispatch a fleet to Greek waters
as a warning.Eager to restore France as a Mediterranean power, he believed
that mobilizing a fleet would appeal to British Russophobes such as Urquhart
and force Britain to join in tandem with France. The British were furious,
however, and scolded the French for unnecessarily escalating the conflict. They
waited for the ambassador to Constantinople, Stratford Canning, to return to
Constantinople before mobilizing their fleet alongside the French fleet in the
Aegean Sea.
Canning found the Turks eager to stand up to Menshikov and his strong-arm
diplomacy, as well as fired up with a newfound sense of Russophobia, which he
cunningly played into by urging them to stand firm against the Russians and
refuse the sened. Canning believed that “it was vital for the Sultan to grant
religious rights by direct sovereign authority rather than by any mechanism
dictated by Russia. In Stratford’s view, the Tsar’s real intention was to use
his protection of the Greek Church as a Trojan horse for the penetration and
dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire (Figes, 2012,p. 113). The Turks, with
the full support of the British, rejected Menshikov’s demands, and the sened
on May 15th, 1853. Menshikov brought news of his failure to the Tsar and
announced that all communication with the Porte would be cut o↵. Nicholas,
seeing that his diplomatic mission had failed, turned to military options. Field
Marshal Paskevich, one of the Tsar’s favorites, played to his pan-Slav fantasies
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by urging him to occupy the Danubian Principalities and bank on the hope that
the Slavs would rebel against their Ottoman oppressors and join the Russian
forces, thus forcing the Sultan to agree to the Tsar’s demands. Nicholas, spurred
on by Paskevich, ordered his armies to occupy Moldavia and Wallachia. Copies
of an imperial manifesto outlining a list of religious grievances by the Ottoman
government were posted on doors in every town. It read: “We are ready to stop
our troops if the Porte guarantees the inviolable rights of the Orthodox Church.
But if it continues to resist, then, with God on our side, we shall advance and
fight for our true faith.” The Turks strengthened their forts along the Danube
and prepared for an imminent Russian invasion, but the British were split on
the occupation of the Principalities. On the one hand, the pacifist Aberdeen
did not want Britain to be drawn into a large-scale conflict against Russia and
was entirely opposed to the idea of sending a fleet to aid the Ottomans. On the
other hand, Palmerston demanded immediate action by the British and wanted
a fleet to be sent to the Bosporus so as to force the Russians to withdraw from
the Principalities. The two sides reached a compromise by sending a fleet to Be-
sika Bay, an inlet right outside the Dardanelles Strait, close enough to prevent
a Russian attack on Constantinople, but far enough to not provoke the Russian
fleet. In July, however, a sudden shift in the manner of the Russian occupation
occurred. The Tsar had ordered the hospodars (governors of Wallachia and
Moldavia under the Porte) to sever relations with the Porte and instead start
paying tribute to Russia, signaling to the European powers that perhaps the
Tsar was looking to permanently occupy the Principalities. In response, the
Austrians mobilized roughly 25,000 troops and the French and British put their
fleets on war footing. Canning strongly supported military intervention, arguing
that the Ottomans, with the necessary support of the French and British, were
more than capable of repelling the Russians. The Austrians could not tolerate
the Russian occupation due to their heavy dependence on the Danube for for-
eign trade. As such, they, joined by the British, French, and Prussians proposed
a diplomatic solution termed the Vienna Note, which vaguely stated that the
Porte would agree to uphold Russia’s treaty rights in the Holy Places and its
protection of Orthodox Christians living in the Ottoman Empire. The Tsar saw
it as a diplomatic victory and agreed to sign it as is and then back o↵. However,
the Turks were not consulted in the drafting of the Note and were therefore con-
cerned that it would give the Russians broad protection over Orthodox subjects
and the ability to interfere in Ottoman a↵airs at any time. Not surprisingly,
this is precisely how the Russians interpreted the Note. Abdulmecid wanted
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Scripta Spring 2023
the Russians to first leave the Principalities before diplomatic relations were to
be re-established, considering that they were after all Ottoman vassal states,
but the Tsar firmly refused. Thus, all parties involved abandoned the Note.
The Tsar likely blamed Canning for the Porte’s decision to refuse the Note, but
as Figes writes, “the truth is that Stratford did his best to get the Porte to
accept the Note, but his influence on the Turks was steadily declining in the
summer months, as Constantinople was swept by demonstrations calling for a
‘holy war’ against Russia” (Figes, 2012, p. 126). The Ottoman public, spurred
on by the invasion of the Principalities, was filled with nationalistic spirit and
religious emotion. Large crowds formed in Constantinople for pro-war demon-
strations, and many Muslim scholars called on the Porte to launch a holy war
against Russia. The pro-war sentiment was so strong that the Porte feared the
potential for an Islamic revolution if it did not declare war. Abdulmecid, forced
with the prospect of having to abdicate at the hands of an Islamic revolution,
conversed with his ministers and agreed to declare war against Russia. “Better
to die fighting,” declared Ottoman general Reshid Pasha, “than to not fight at
all. God willing, we will be victorious” (Türkgeldi, 1987, p. 319).
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References
[1] Antonetti, G. (1994). Louis-Philippe. Fayard.

[2] Blackwell, W. L. (1968). Beginnings of Russian industrialization, 1800-
1860. Princeton Press.
[3] Bolen, T. (2009). “The American colony and Eric Matson collection.” Re-
trieved from http:// www.lifeintheholyland.com/42j erusalemm atsona mericanc olony/
[4] Bonaparte, L. N. (1852, October 9). Speech at Bordeaux. Norton. Re-
trieved from https:// wwnorton.com/college/history/ralph/workbook/ralprs28c.htm
[5] Cunningham, A. (1993). Eastern questions in the nineteenth century:
Collected essays, volume 2. Psychology Press.
[6] Davison, R. H. (1976, September). “Russian skill and Turkish imbecility:
The Treaty of Kuchuk Kainardji reconsidered.” Slavic review, 35(3), 463-483.
https://doi.org/10.2307/2495120.
[7] Figes, O. (2011). The Crimean War: A brief history. Henry Holt and
Company.
[8] Flandrin Hippolyte. (1861). Portrait of Napoleon III [oil on canvas].
Palace of Versailles, Versailles, France.
[9] Florescu, R.R. (1963, September). “Stratford Canning, Palmerston, and
the Wallachian Revolution of 1848.” The journal of modern history, 35(3).
https://doi.org/10.1086 /243737.
[10] Frond, V. (1869). Charles-Jean-Marie-Félix, marquis de La Valette [Oil
on canvas]. Panthéon des illustrations françaises au XIXe siècle, Paris, France.
[11] Hilarion, M. (2013, June 19). Appeal by Metropolitan Hilarion on the
celebration of the 1,025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus. Synod. Retrieved
from https://www.synod.com/synod /eng2013/20130619e nmhappeal1025.html.
[12] Kruger, F. (1851). Portrait of Prince A. S. Menshikov [Oil on canvas].
Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia.
[13] Lamb, M. (1981, July). “The making of a Russophobe: David Urquhart:
The formative years, 1825-1835.” The international history review, 3(3), 330-
357. Retrieved from https://www .jstor.org/stable/40105148.
[14] Martineau, H. (1848). Eastern life, present and past. E. Moxon.
[15] Persigny, J. G. V. F. (1896). Mémoires du duc de Persigny. E. Plon,
Nourrit et Cie.
[16] Price, R. D. (2002). Napoleon III and the Second Empire. Routldege.
[17] Riasanovsky, N. V. (1959, January). Nicholas I and official nationality
in Russia 1825 - 1855. University of California Press.
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[18] Seymour to Russell, Letter, February 10, 1853, FO 65/424.

[19] Talbot, M. Caldwell, A. Emmott, C. (2020). “Perceiving Palestine:
British visions of the Holy Land.” Jerusalem Quarterly, 82, 50-76. ISSN 0334-
4800.
[20] Taki, V. (2015, April). “Limits of protection: Russia and the Orthodox
coreligionists in the Ottoman Empire.” The Carl Beck Papers in Russian and
East European Studies. https ://doi.org/10.5195/cbp.2015.201.
[21] Türkgeldi, A. F. (1987, January 1). Mesail-i Mühimme-i Siyasiyye Vol-
ume 2. Türk Tarih Kurumu Yayınları.
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SCRIPTA
ISSN: 2769-9242 Spring 2023
Is Social Media Scientifically Impacting

the Brain of Users
Dayanna Gonzalez∗
Abstract
In recent years, social media has gained immense popularity among

younger generations due to its ability to facilitate social interactions. How-
ever, the use of social media has been found to have negative e↵ects on the
brain, primarily through the release of dopamine, commonly referred to
as the ”feel-good” chemical. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a
crucial role in sending signals to nerve cells and influencing the experience
of pleasure. When individuals engage with social media, it activates the
brain’s dopamine reward pathway, creating a loop that reinforces the de-
sire for more engagement. This chemical alteration of the brain can lead
to changes in the dopamine threshold, resulting in overuse or addiction
to social media. This article aims to explore the impact of social me-
dia on the brains of countless users, particularly the excessive release of
dopamine. Firstly, we will examine how social media triggers an addictive
response in the brain by stimulating the reward system and perpetuating
the dopamine loop, often without the users’ conscious awareness. Sec-
ondly, we will delve into the ways in which social media a↵ects mental
health, including the replacement of genuine happiness and its impact on
concentration and focus. Lastly, we will discuss strategies to mitigate the
harmful e↵ects of social media and propose preventive measures.

Contact: kgonzalez@fultonscienceacademy.org
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1 Science behind the addiction to social media

Similar to alcohol and drugs, social media has a detrimental impact on the
brain. When users engage with social media platforms, it triggers the release of
dopamine, which follows the brain’s reward pathways. This dopamine release
induces feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. However, users often unknowingly
enter a cycle where the brain adjusts its dopamine threshold to maintain the
same level of enjoyment as before. This phenomenon, known as the social me-
dia ”dopamine cycle,” occurs when the brain associates the use of technology
with pleasurable experiences and craves it during times of discomfort. As users
increase their social media usage, the brain’s reward threshold also increases,
leading to a greater need for more social media stimulation to achieve the same
level of pleasure that was previously attained with less exposure. This escalating
cycle perpetuates a craving for social media and contributes to addictive behav-
iors. Following the use of social media, the brain undergoes a compensatory
mechanism in which it reduces dopamine levels below the initial baseline. This
phenomenon gives rise to what is known as the ”Dopamine Loop.” Users experi-
ence a sense of dopamine depletion, prompting them to seek further stimulation
on social media in order to elevate dopamine levels and regain satisfaction. Un-
fortunately, these e↵orts prove to be inefficient, as each subsequent interaction
with social media results in even lower dopamine levels than before. Conse-
quently, users inadvertently establish a recurring dopamine cycle that gradually
alters the dopamine threshold, ultimately leading to addiction.
2 Impacts of Social Media in Mental Health

Social media has deteriorated mental health among teens. Prior to using so-
cial media, users are in a state of homeostasis. However, the release of high
doses of dopamine during social media interactions disrupts this balance, caus-
ing the brain to compensate by pushing dopamine levels below the baseline.
This creates a state of ”dopamine deficit” where users experience a sense of
unhappiness as dopamine falls below its normal levels. This deficit state can
manifest as anxiety or depression and serves as a foundation for various men-
tal health disorders.During this phase, individuals attempt to restore dopamine
levels, often by increasing their time spent on social media. Unfortunately,
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Scripta Spring 2023
this perpetuates a cycle where users become reliant on social media to alleviate
the dopamine deficit and seek temporary relief from their negative emotional
state. Consequently, the excessive use of social media further exacerbates men-
tal health issues among teenagers. The excessive use of social media can create
an illusion of happiness, but it fails to replicate the authentic experience of
true happiness. The release of substantial amounts of dopamine during social
media interactions can mimic the sensation of happiness. However, due to the
dopamine loop, users often find themselves feeling even worse after using social
media as their dopamine levels dip below the baseline. This negative impact is
reflected in the mental health of modern-day teenagers, with studies showing
that those who spend more than two hours on screens are more likely to rate
their mental well-being as poor or bad (McNamara).
In contrast, genuine happiness can be understood through the Japanese con-
cept of ”Ikigai,” which defines the value and purpose that each individual finds
in life, a unique and personal experience for everyone. While social media may
simulate happiness, it paradoxically has an adverse e↵ect on the brain of users.
It leaves individuals feeling dissatisfied and compelled to seek further dopamine
stimulation to compensate for the dopamine loss, perpetuating a cycle of fleeting
”happiness” and intensified episodes of ”unhappiness.” Moreover, social media
has the tendency to replace genuine happiness, or Ikigai, thereby contributing
to poor mental health outcomes.
3 E↵ects of Social Media on Concentration

The use of social media has various impacts on the brain’s ability to focus and
concentrate. Firstly, the addictive nature of social media triggers brain activity
through the stimulating e↵ects of sounds and light. Teenagers often engage with
their phones at night, leading to reduced sleep duration and even insomnia. The
lack of adequate sleep diminishes focus and impairs nerve activity. Secondly,
social media can unconsciously hinder concentration. A study involving chil-
dren revealed that those who had their smartphones within sight, even if they
were not actively using them, performed worse on cognitive tests compared to
those who kept their phones out of reach in another room (Ehmke). This study
demonstrates the detrimental e↵ects of smartphones on the brains of students,
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Scripta Spring 2023
as the constant presence of the device unconsciously a↵ects focus by keeping

the brain in a state of continuous alertness to potential stimuli, such as noti-
fications. Moreover, many students believe they can e↵ectively ”multitask” by
engaging in multiple activities simultaneously, such as watching videos while do-
ing homework. However, research has consistently shown that true multitasking
is not possible, as the brain continuously shifts focus between the various tasks,
preventing full concentration on any one activity.
4 How the Impact and risks of Social Media

can be Reduced
The younger generations face a growing risk of diminishing intellectual capac-
ity due to the detrimental e↵ects of social media and technological devices on
concentration, as well as the associated mental health concerns. To address
this issue, experts strongly advise implementing several strategies. First and
foremost, it is recommended to limit daily screen time to less than two hours
in order to mitigate the negative impact on cognitive abilities. Additionally,
when striving to concentrate on tasks, keeping the device out of reach can sig-
nificantly enhance focus by minimizing distractions. Another e↵ective approach
is to disable all notifications, as this helps prevent the brain from constantly
anticipating dopamine stimuli. Furthermore, experts suggest periodically dis-
connecting from smartphones and other devices to foster connections with the
non-technological world. Taking breaks from technology allows individuals to
engage in activities that promote intellectual growth and well-being, such as
reading, pursuing hobbies, or spending quality time with loved ones.
5 Conclusion
The impact of social media on mental health and concentration is evident
through its influence on dopamine release and the brain’s reward pathways.
Social media creates a loop that compensates for the surge of dopamine by re-
ducing the threshold below the original levels, leading to feelings of sadness.
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Scripta Spring 2023
This dopamine loop can significantly impact mental health, as the resulting
”dopamine deficit” can resemble symptoms of anxiety and depression. Concen-
tration is also a↵ected by social media, both consciously and unconsciously. The
constant exposure to social media platforms and the allure of notifications can
disrupt focus and hinder one’s ability to concentrate on tasks. To mitigate these
e↵ects, experts recommend unplugging from technological devices periodically.
By intentionally disconnecting, individuals can prevent the formation of a gen-
eration that is negatively impacted by the mental health concerns associated
with excessive social media use, as well as combat decreased intellectual ability
and concentration.
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Scripta Spring 2023
References
[1] Lee Health. ”Are You Addicted to Social Media?” Lee Health, 18 March
2023, https://www.leehealth.org/health-and-wellness/healthy-news-blog/mental-
health/are-you-addicted-to-social-media. Accessed 18 March 2023.
[2] Cristol, Hope. ”Dopamine: What It Is What It Does.” WebMD, 14 June
2021, https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-dopamine. Accessed 18
March 2023.
[3] Ehmke, Rachel. ”How Phones Ruin Concentration.” Child Mind Insti-
tute, 12 October 2021, https://childmind.org/article/kids-shouldnt-use-phones-
during-homework/. Accessed 19 March 2023.
[4] ”Here’s How Social Media A↵ects Your Mental Health.” McLean Hospital,
18 January 2023, https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/it-or-not-social-medias-
a↵ecting-your-mental-health. Accessed 18 March 2023.
[5] McNamara, Brittney. ”The Science Behind Social Media’s Hold on Our
Mental Health.” Teen Vogue, 10 November 2021, https://www.teenvogue.com/story/the-
science-behind-social-medias-hold-on-our-mental-health. Accessed 18 March 2023.
[6] ”Neurotransmitter Dopamine (DA) and its Role in the Development
of Social Media Addiction.” International Online Medical Council (IOMC),
27 November 2020, https://www.iomcworld.org/open-access/neurotransmitter-
dopamine-da-and-its-role-in-the-development-of-social-media-addiction-59222.html.
Accessed 18 March 2023.
[7] Mitsuhashi, Yukari. ”Ikigai: A Japanese concept to improve work and
life.” BBC, 7 August 2017, https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20170807-
ikigai-a-japanese-concept-to-improve-work-and-life. Accessed 23 March 2023.
28
SCRIPTA
ISSN: 2769-9242 Spring 2023
Understanding The Psychology of

Suicide and Suicidal Behavior
Fatima Awan∗
Abstract
Suicide has emerged as a pressing global concern over the past years,
and it is expected to remain so in the foreseeable future. This paper aims
to provide deeper insights into the psychology of suicide and the influence
of external factors on suicidal tendencies. By specifically examining the
impact of isolationism and feelings of burdensomeness, this study delves
into significant factors a↵ecting suicidality, identifies high-risk individu-
als, explores genetic predisposition, recognizes major warning signs, and
emphasizes the importance of prevention.
Extensive research has demonstrated that a combination of internal
and external factors, including genetics and situational depression, con-
tribute to self-harm and suicide. However, it is crucial to comprehend
the extent to which certain circumstances and emotions contribute to the
desire to commit suicide. By drawing on Thomas Joiner’s book ”Why
People Die by Suicide” and numerous other reputable sources, this study
concludes that two primary external factors strongly associated with sui-
cidality are feelings of isolation and burdensomeness. Furthermore, it
reveals that both religious beliefs and age play significant roles in deter-
mining an individual’s vulnerability to suicide.
1 Major Factors of Suicide

Suicide is often seen as a means to end su↵ering or a way to get rid of or avoid
pain, and it carries a universal stigma. Society often perceives it as a cowardly
and weak act. No one commits suicide for no reason. As David Hume once
Contact: fawan@fultonscienceacademy.org
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Scripta Spring 2023
expressed, “No man ever threw away life while it was worth keeping.” What
factors contributes to suicide? What makes people feel that life is not worth
keeping? Whether rooted in feelings of isolation or burdensomeness, various
reasons can contribute to a person’s sense of despair, including past experiences,
genetic predispositions, and more. But what drives individuals to end their lives,
even when faced with challenges that may appear temporary?
Two major factors, according to Thomas Joiner, of suicide include ‘perceived
burdensomeness’ and ‘failed belongingness’ (Joiner). Perceived burdensomeness
alludes to the feelings of inadequacy or inefficiency a person experiences. These
factors are particularly prevalent among individuals with disabilities or those
who feel that they only impose hardships on the people around them. Failed
belongingness, however, relates to the feelings of isolation one feels in others’
company. ‘Failed belongingness’ contributes to the observation that suicide
rates go down in times of celebration (when people come together) and in times
of tragedy (when people support one another) (Joiner, Hollar, Van Orden,
2006).Social alienation has emerged as a prominent factor associated with suici-
dality, along with perceived burdensomeness. These two factors are commonly
found among individuals at risk of suicide. Those who experience feelings of
burdensomeness or ostracization are more susceptible to suicidal ideation and
actions compared to those who do not su↵er from these emotional states.
Previous suicide attempts and self-harm are two other major factors that
contribute to the likelyhood of suicide. In “Why People Commit Suicide” by
Thomas Joiner, Joiner explains that “ . . . the first step to death by suicide is
to grapple with the results of eons of evolution, to grapple with one of nature’s
strongest forces—self-preservation” (Joiner, 48). The act of committing suicide
is far from simplistic. It rarely occurs impulsively, as it entails overcoming
the strong instinct for self-preservation. Generally, individuals who are at the
highest risk of suicide are those who have made previous attempts.“The view
taken here is that those who have gotten used to the negative aspects of suicide,
and, additionally, who have acquired competence and even courage specifically
regarding suicide, are the ones capable of the act—anyone else is unable to
complete suicide, even if they want to” (Joiner, 49). A critical element in the
act of suicide is the development of habituation to pain. Individuals who have
engaged in self-harming behaviors, like self-cutting, are at a higher risk of both
attempting and completing suicide. This is because they may perceive the act
of self-harm, such as cutting their wrists or causing harm to themselves, as less
painful over time. Moreover, the severity or lethality of the self-harm attempt
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is directly correlated with an increased likelihood of a completed suicide.. As

Schneidman puts it, “Each day contains the threat of failure and assaults by
others, but it is the threat of self-destruction that we are most afraid to touch”
(Edward Schneidman). If suicide came without pain, almost all of humanity
would have committed it by now.
Substance abuse also plays a major role in suicidal behavior. “Opioid use is
associated with a 40-60 percent increased likelihood of suicidal thought, and a
75 percent increased likelihood of suicide attempt. Some studies suggest that
Opioid and injection drug users are 13 times as likely to die by suicide” (Addic-
tion Center). In the end, individuals struggling with substance abuse disorders
are at a higher risk of suicide compared to those without such issues. One pos-
sible explanation for this is that substance abuse can contribute to intensified
and distressing experiences, including self-harm (Joiner, 195). In addition to
this, such disorders can lead to an increase in social alienation and diminish
one’s sense of efficacy, thereby amplifying feelings of failed belongingness and
perceived burdensomeness, as mentioned earlier. A study relevant to this, has
also shown that when intoxicated individuals are more inclined to self-inflict
pain compared to those who are sober (Joiner, 194).
Mental disorders play a significant role in influencing suicidality among in-
dividuals. Two major disorders include Borderline Personality Disorder and
Anorexia Nervosa. “Borderline Personality Disorder is characterized by a long-
standing pattern of stormy interpersonal relationships, self-destructive behavior
such as self-cutting or burning, marked emotional lability and impulsivity, and
an empty or di↵use sense of identity” (Joiner, 195). Borderline Personality
Disorder patients generally have pervasive thoughts of a lack of self-efficacy
and self-doubt. This reinforces feelings of burdensomeness and can increase the
chances of suicide. At least fifty percent of people with borderline personal-
ity disorder have made at least one very severe suicide attempt (Joiner, 196).
Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder often have a background of
self-harm, intensifying their vulnerability to suicide risk. Additionally, Anorexia
Nervosa, another mental illness, can exert a substantial influence on suicidality.
Women with anorexia often subject themselves to physical trauma, primarily
through self-starvation, and frequently exhibit increased tolerance to pain. This
contributes to the development of a capacity for engaging in potentially lethal
self-injury.
Mood disorders play a significant role in influencing suicidality. A consider-
able number of suicide cases involve individuals with a history of mood disorders,
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such as depression, bipolar I disorder, and bipolar II depressive disorder. Ac-

cording to a study done by the Addiction Center, “66 percent of people who fall
victim to suicide are dealing with depression at the time” (Addiction Center).
Mood disorders’ correlation to suicidality may be due to an increased ability to
cause self-harm as a result of manic episodes. Depression, specifically, causes
feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in specific activities. This
can result in social isolation, which in turn can cause an increase in suicidal
thoughts or behaviors.
2 Major People At Risk

When considering gender, men are approximately four times more likely to die
by suicide compared to women. Conversely, women are about three times more
likely than men to make suicide attempts (Joiner, 155). This gender discrepancy
in suicide rates may be attributed to a higher tendency towards violence among
men, which is comparatively less prevalent among women. For instance, men
are more likely to die by gunshot, whereas women tend to resort to methods
such as overdose or poisoning when attempting suicide. Additionally, men may
possess a greater capacity for self-harm due to their engagement in more aggres-
sive activities or sports. Moreover, men might experience greater challenges in
establishing a sense of belonging, as women are generally less inclined to aban-
don relational values that form a significant part of their identity.(Joiner, 156).
The graph below shows the average suicide rates of men and women in the US
from 1981-2016.
In the United States, there is a notable contrast in suicide rates between
African-Americans and Caucasians, with African-Americans generally exhibit-
ing a lower risk. This discrepancy is believed by some theorists to be influenced
by factors such as social support and religiosity, which tend to be more prevalent
among African-Americans (Joiner,158). When it comes to religiosity and a sense
of connection with God, African-Americans often surpass Caucasians in their
levels of devotion and spiritual closeness. “In a national survey, it was found
that African-Americans are more likely to attend church, pray, and feel more
strongly about their religious beliefs than whites.” (Joiner, 159).In this context,
it suggests that religious institutions and support from others can serve as a
protective factor against suicidality. This reinforces the theory that when the
fundamental need for belongingness is fulfilled, the risk of suicide decreases.
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Figure 1:
Hispanics have one of the lowest suicide rates among all races/ethnicities in
the United States (sprc.org). This may be due to close contact with family.
Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that there is considerable diversity
within the Hispanic population in the United States. Conversely, Native Amer-
icans experience higher rates of suicide compared to other populations, with
rates approximately 1.5 to 2 times higher (Joiner, 160). This may be due to
the social disintegration of the Native Americans, but may also be a↵ected by
the social cohesion in di↵erent tribes (Joiner, 161). On the opposite end of the
spectrum,various ethnic groups and cultures may exhibit lower susceptibility to
suicide. This can be attributed to their strong sense of community, which fosters
a reduced emphasis on autonomy and an enhanced sense of belongingness. In
contrast, cultures that prioritize independence and autonomy may experience
heightened feelings of suicidality due to a perceived lack of belongingness.
Age is a significant factor in suicidality, as the risk generally increases with
advancing age. “In the United States, suicide is most common in those who are
sixty-five years old or older . . . The ratio of attempted to completed suicides
among adolescents is quite high (more than a hundred to one), whereas the
ratio is around four to one among older people)” (Joiner, 162). While feelings
of burdensomeness may appear more prevalent among older individuals, it is
important to note that individuals of any age can experience such feelings,
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contributing to a high rate of suicide among adolescents and young adults,

alongside depression. In fact, depression is more commonly observed in young
people compared to older individuals. It is crucial to recognize that feelings of
burdensomeness are not solely linked to being a failed breadwinner but can also
arise from a sense of expendability (Joiner,163). Suicide, however, is not very
common among younger children because they do not have the experience nor
the time to acquire the ability to commit self-harm. The graph below shows the
Suicide rates by age in 2015.
Figure 2:
Victims of childhood abuse are also at risk of suicide. Childhood abuse

and neglect can result in feelings of expendability, which in turn causes in-
creased suicidality. Childhood losses have a significant impact on suicide risk.
Neglectful parenting, in particular, emerges as a major risk factor for suicidal
ideation and subsequent attempts among adolescents. A study of 776 randomly
selected children from a mean age of five to adulthood over a seventeen-year
period showed that childhood abuse (especially sexual abuse) conferred a sig-
nificant risk for suicidality (Joiner, 190). Results showed that the “Risk of
multiple suicide attempts was eight times greater among those with a sexual
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abuse history than among others” (Joiner, 190). Furthermore, childhood abuse
amplifies habituation to pain, thereby enhancing the capacity for self-harm. Es-
sentially, childhood abuse exerts not only physical but also psychological e↵ects
on individuals, significantly contributing to suicidality and placing victims at
an increased risk of suicide.
3 Genetics
While research shows that there is a genetic component to suicide, it can not be
entirely relied on without taking into account other factors. Genetic research,
encompassing studies on twins and adoption registries, provides evidence sup-
porting the influence of genetics on suicidality. For example “From a register of
thousands of adoptions, they identified fifty-seven who eventually died by sui-
cide. These fifty-seven were compared to fifty-seven matched adoption controls
who had not died by suicide, specifically with regard to family history of suicide
among their biological relatives. Over 4 percent of the biological relatives of
the suicide group had themselves died by suicide, as compared to well under 1
percent of the biological relatives of the control group.” These findings indicate
that genes can contribute to suicidality. Furthermore, numerous mental disor-
ders such as depression, mood disorders, and personality disorders, which pos-
sess a genetic component, significantly elevate the risk of suicide. Specific genes
have been found to have associations with suicidality in certain studies. Genes
such as the serotonin transporter gene, the TPH gene, and the COMT gene
have demonstrated links to suicidality in various research findings (Joiner,179).
Serotonin is responsible for the feeling of well-being and happiness people feel,
in addition to facilitating sleeping, eating, and digestion. The serotonin system
plays a crucial role in regulating serotonin levels in the synaptic space. Certain
individuals with specific genotypes may exhibit dysregulated serotonin systems,
which can have implications for their overall health and well-being. Studies
have indicated that this particular genotype is more prevalent among individu-
als who have died by suicide compared to others. Additionally, people with a
family history of suicide are more likely to have this genotype than those without
such a family history (Joiner, 177). Tryptophan Hydroxylase or TPH is also a
serotonin-system gene that can a↵ect suicidality. Catechol-O-methyltransferase
(COMT) is not a serotonin-system gene but has been linked to suicide in some
studies. One study found that there was no di↵erence in COMT genotype be-
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tween patients at high risk for suicide and control patients, however, another
study suggested that di↵erences in the COMT gene are only found in violent
suicide (Joiner,178).
4 Major Signs
It can be challenging to determine whether an individual is experiencing sui-
cidal thoughts or not, particularly if one is not well-versed in recognizing the
multitude of signs of suicide. While some signs may seem evident, there are
also many that remain obscure and require deeper understanding to identify.
A few common signs include being sad or moody, sudden calmness, changes in
personality, di↵erence in appearance, going through serious trauma, or change
in sleep pattern. In addition to the aforementioned signs, there are several other
indicators that can assist in recognizing if a person is struggling with thoughts
of suicide or self-harm. These include experiencing overwhelming emotional or
physical pain, withdrawing from family and friends, giving away cherished or
meaningful possessions, expressing farewells to loved ones, attending to per-
sonal a↵airs such as making a will, or engaging in unnecessary risks that could
potentially lead to fatal outcomes. When engaging in conversation with an in-
dividual who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts, certain prominent signs
may manifest. These signs can encompass talking about wanting to die or end
their life, expressing feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, or a lack of purpose
in life, discussing a sense of being trapped or perceiving no viable solutions to
life’s challenges, as well as expressing a belief of being a burden to others or
contemplating the idea of burdening others. Every emotion and experience we
go through as humans is meaningful, regardless of its scale. If anyone is expe-
riencing any of these symptoms, no matter how minor they may seem, seeking
help is the best course of action to prevent further escalation. If someone ob-
serves these signs in someone close to them, it is important to seek help on
their behalf. Additionally, alongside the aforementioned signs, there are several
others that may concentrate on specific aspects of an individual’s life. For in-
stance, certain reasons or signs may be associated with relationships, such as
experiencing physical or emotional abuse within a relationship, lacking support
from family and friends, or having a family history of suicide. Other specific
symptoms pertain to community, cultural, and societal factors. These signs en-
compass feeling ashamed to seek help, particularly for mental health concerns,
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lacking access to adequate healthcare, specifically mental health or substance

abuse care, and adhering to strong cultural beliefs that consider suicide as a
viable solution for resolving problems.
5 Prevention
Suicidal thoughts are one of the most common and serious issues among adoles-
cents and teens today. While it is common for everyone to experience moments
of despair and sadness, when these feelings escalate to a point where one per-
ceives themselves as worthless and entertains thoughts of being better o↵ dead,
seeking help becomes an imperative priority. One primary approach to pre-
vention is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a form of psychotherapy that
assists individuals in identifying and modifying their thought patterns in order
to e↵ectively cope with stressful experiences. By helping individuals develop
alternative actions and thoughts instead of contemplating suicide, CBT serves
as a valuable method for preventing suicide. Another type of therapy is Dialec-
tical Behavior Therapy (DBT). This is another type of psychotherapy.Extensive
research has demonstrated the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
in reducing suicidal behavior among adolescents. Furthermore, Dialectical Be-
havior Therapy (DBT) has shown significant success in significantly reducing
suicide attempts among adults diagnosed with personality disorders (a mental
illness with an ongoing pattern of impulsive behavior, self-image, and actions
that result in impulsive behavior and problems with relationships). A therapist
who is proficient in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can assist individu-
als in identifying and addressing their disruptive or unhealthy emotions and
behaviors. By acquiring e↵ective coping strategies for challenging situations,
individuals can find support in managing distressing circumstances. Seeking
help remains the optimal approach for preventing or halting the occurrence
of suicide, both in oneself and in loved ones. The Suicide Hotline number is
800-273-8255, https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/?scrlybrkr=50efaab0.
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References
[1] Joiner, Thomas E. Why People Die By Suicide. Illustrated, reprint ed.,
Harvard University Press, 2005.
[2] ”The Athena Forum: Why People Die By Suicide - Thomas Joiner,
PhD.” The Athena Forum, https://theathenaforum.org/why-people-die-suicide-
thomas-joiner-phd.
[3] ”Suicide Prevention Resource Center: Hispanics/Latinos.” Suicide Pre-
vention Resource Center, https://www.sprc.org/populations/hispanics-latinos.
[4] ”Genetics and Suicide Risk: How Your DNA Can Impact Your Mental
Health.” University of Utah Health, https://healthcare.utah.edu/publica↵airs/news
/2020/11/11-suicide-genetics.php.
[5] ”Addiction and Suicide.” Addiction Center,
https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/addiction-and-suicide/.
[6] ”Suicide Prevention Resource Guide.” Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA), 2016, https://store.samhsa.gov/sites
/default/files/d7/priv/sma16-4935.pdf.
38
SCRIPTA
ISSN: 2769-9242 Spring 2023
How Player Winning Rates and Average

Cards to Bust are A↵ected by
Incremented Decks in Blackjack
Kevin Yuan, Karina Shah∗
Abstract
In this research paper, we investigated the impact of adding increments
from 0 to 20 with a step of 0.01 to each card in a deck of Blackjack (e.g.
an increment of 0.01 would add 0.01 to every card in the deck). Our focus
was on how this a↵ected the average number of cards it took for a player to
bust and their win rate. Blackjack, a popular card game played in casinos
for centuries, requires players to get as close as possible to 21 without
going over to beat the dealer.Typically, games will have 2 to 7 players,
but in this paper, the simulation analyzed a singular player versus the
house. Though Blackjack includes intricacies regarding splitting hands
and strategies with money, these rules will be looked over for the sake of
complexity. By conducting thousands of simulations for each increment,
we analyzed patterns between the increment value and the two variables
of interest. Our results indicated that the player’s winning percentage was
highest when an increment between 9 and 11 was added, with a mid-60
percentile chance of winning. Additionally, the average number of cards
required to bust approached 3.
1 Introduction
Blackjack is a highly popular card game frequently played in casinos. Its origins
are subject to various theories, but the most widely accepted one is that the
game first emerged in French casinos during the 1700s under the name Vingt-
et-Un, which means 21 in French (Wintle, February 11, 2010). Spain also had
∗ Senior
Students, Fulton Science Academy and Milton High School.
Contact: kyuan@fultonscienceacademy.org, karinashah1234@gmail.com
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a similar version of the game in which players aimed to reach 31 with at least
three cards, while the Romans are believed to have played a variation involving
wooden blocks with varying numerical values (Wintle, February 11, 2010).
2 Background
2.1 Rules
In typical casinos, multiple decks of cards are shu✏ed together, with the six-
deck game being the most popular. In Blackjack, the ace card can be counted
as either 1 or 11, and it’s up to the player to decide which value will allow them
to reach a sum closest to 21 without going over. The face cards, including jack,
queen, and king, are worth 10 points each, while the numerical cards hold their
face value.
2.2 Gameplay
In Blackjack, the dealer initially deals two cards face up to the player and one
card face up and another face down for themselves.The player can then choose
to hit, meaning they’ll receive another card in an attempt to get as close to 21
without exceeding it. Once the player decides to stand, meaning they’re satisfied
with their current hand, the dealer flips over their face down card and hits until
they reach a sum of at least 17, the standard rule used by most casinos. If the
player’s card sum is less than or equal to 21 and higher than the dealer’s, the
player wins. If the player goes over 21, they bust, resulting in an automatic
loss. In the event that both the player and the dealer have the same card sum,
the game results in a tie.
2.3 Optimal Strategy

The optimal strategy for playing Blackjack varies depending on the number of
decks in use. However, this study focuses on a single-deck game. In this case, the
player’s optimal strategy involves standing if the sum of their cards ranges from
17 to 21. If the sum of their cards ranges from 13 to 16 and the dealer’s face-up
card is 2 to 6, or if the sum of their cards is 12 and the dealer’s face-up card
ranges from 4 to 6, the player should also stand. Otherwise, the player should
hit, requesting another card until they fall into one of the standing ranges. The
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house’s strategy, on the other hand, is to always hit until their sum is at least
17.
3 Literature review
There is minimal past research conducted on using di↵erent decks when play-
ing Blackjack. However, current games can be played with one or multiple
decks, changing up the strategy a player uses (Betway). The number of decks
drastically changes the chances of obtaining certain hands, like Blackjack 4.83
percent for one deck to 4.78 percent for 2 decks (review fix). Studies have been
conducted regarding winning chances and the house’s edge (winning percentage
over the player) in relation to the number of decks used. A study by the Wizard
of Odds demonstrated that as the number of decks in the game increases, so
do the player’s winning chances, as the houses’ edge decreased by 0.079 percent
when the decks increased from 1 to 8 (wizard of odds). The author postulated
this was because the bust rate decreased as the number of decks increased, thus
increasing the chances that the player would obtain a hand better than the
house’s.
From searching numerous research journals, there does not seem to have
been past research regarding how winning chances change when the whole deck
of cards is shifted upwards. However, given the number of decks in play a↵ects
the winning chances as the bust rate changes, it can be postulated that the
winning chances would also change as the decks are shifted upwards. This
is because it will become easier to bust with larger card numbers. We will
also measure the average number of cards it takes to bust to see if there is a
correlation between the bust rate and winning rate that was true for changing
the number of decks within play study.
4 Methods
As with any analysis regarding patterns in card games, it is optimal to create
a simulation through code that can be automatically run many times such that
it limits manual intervention. For example, instead of having to manually play
through 1000 games and record the results, programming a bot to run through
one game and then looping that code 1000 times would be much faster.
Before coding, some parameters and a basis was set. Since we are focusing on
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win rates and the average number of cards it takes to “bust”, the money aspect
of the game was not principal. Thus, it was acceptable to negate coding any
features regarding money in Black Jack (e.g. doubling down). A strategy such
as counting cards based on the running count was also not included. Moreover,
splitting hands, the term given for playing two hands at once when pairs of the
same card are dealt, was also looked over to limit complexity. Though splitting
hands plays a vital position in the player’s monetary gain over the house, it does
not drastically change the winning chances shown later in the results section.
Finally, it is also crucial that a set strategy was given to both the player and
the house since consistent gameplay was needed if generated data were to be
interpretable. Based on the number of decks in play at one time, the player can
use the di↵erent optimal strategies. The notable two being for one deck and
another for 6-8 decks in play. In this study, we chose to have one deck at play
though the same program implemented later can be easily altered to fit the 6-8
deck strategy. The optimal strategy for the player with one deck in play is listed
below:
Figure 1: The figure above shows the optimal strategy along with the key for the
player with one deck in play. Note that as established earlier, in this study we
only consider two of the players moves: being able to hit and stand. Thus, the
Rh, which normally stands for surrender, was treated as a stand and doubling
down was treated as a hit or a stand.
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The house’s strategy, by conventional rule, is to hit when the sum of their
cards is below 17. It is crucial to consider the situation when either the player
or the house has busted but has an ace in their deck. By the Blackjack rule, the
ace can hold a value of 1 or 11 based on the holder’s choice. Aces are initiated
to hold a value of 11. However, if either player or house busted but had an ace
in their deck, the ace would then be converted to a value of 1 and the player
would resume asking for cards.
Given the parameters we have defined, a bot was coded, of which we will
explain the significant functions.
We started by defining lists and variables:
Figure 2: The segment above displays the lists and variables created. The play-
erCards and houseCards lists represents the player and house’s current hand,
winPlayer and winHouse, and Ties count the number of times either entity has
won or tied, bustSum and bustNum sum the number of cards in the hand every
time the player busts and the number of times a player busted respectively.
The x and y lists are defined later when plotting the distributions. Finally, the
numberList represents the initial deck of cards. When later intervals are added
this list would subsequently be altered.
The first function defined was the draw function. Generating a random
number from index 0 to the length from the numberList, the function would
return a randomized card. This simulated a shu✏ed deck. The index of the
randomized card would then be removed.
The next function defined was called “checkEmpty”. This function was cru-
cial as it ensured that at all times one deck (or what was remaining after players
drew) was being played, guaranteeing that the optimal strategy aforementioned
was implemented. After each draw, the draw function was called; this function
would be called to check whether or not the last draw was the last card that
had not been played yet. If it was, the function would reset the deck by adding
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Figure 3: The code segment above is the draw function.
back the original cards (a regular deck of cards whose values were defined in
the introduction) and adding the current increment. For example, if the current
increment was 0.25, 0.25 would be added to each deck.
Figure 4: The code segment above is the checkEmpty function. Note that the
function takes in a “num”, which simply signifies the current interval that is
being used within the deck of cards. Thus, within each append function, “num”
is added.
The strategy functions were the next to be created, essentially following the
previously defined strategies for both the player and the house.
Finally, the win and reset functions were created to determine who (player
or house) won each round, and to reset the lists that acted as the player’s and
house’s hands. The win function simply checked whether or not an entity had
busted. If neither the player or house had, it checked who had a closer sum to
21. The reset function cleared the player and house cards lists.
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Figure 5: The code segment returns who won by first checking whether either
entity has busted. If not, it compares who has the higher total value. If both
entities have the same total value, it returns a tie.
With the basic functions defined, the run function was created to combine
all of the functions to simulate one round of black-jack between a single player
and the house. After each round, variables would be added to keep track of the
player wins, house wins, ties, cards needed to bust if the player did bust, and
added onto the number of busts if the player did bust.
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Figure 6: The code segment above is the function that runs one round of a
game.
Finally, now that we were able to run one round of a game, we could loop
through runGame thousands of times to find the player’s winning chance and
the average number cards to bust (calculated by dividing bustSum/bustNum).
Since this study aimed to determine the correlation between changing the deck
by a certain interval and the winning and average number of cards it took to
bust, the for loop that wrapped the runGame function was then wrapped by
another function that added an interval from 0 to 20 in increments of 0.01. Two
graphs were then generated with winning rate and bust rates being the two
response variables and the added increment being the explanatory variable.
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Figure 7: The graph shows the correlation between the increment value of the
cards and the player’s winning rate.
5 Data
To analyze the win rate data visually, we utilized the Matplotlib library to plot
the lists. Figure 1 displays the correlation between the increment value of cards
and the player’s winning rate, with the increment value ranging from 0 to 20.
The graph exhibits four noteworthy behaviors. Firstly, in several segments,
the graph behaves similarly to a step function, where the intervals are densely
packed together with similar winning rates. For example, (provide an interval
as an example).
When adding increments from 0 to 6, the graph displays a decreasing linear
graph. To prove this pattern, we implemented the concept of regression.When
adding increments from 0 to 6, the graph displays a decreasing linear graph.
To prove this pattern, we implemented the concept of regression. We analyzed
both power and exponential by logging the x and y values, but there was a weak
correlation. The r² value was significantly lower showing that there was a weak
correlation between the x and y variables. The r² value represents the percent of
the variation in the winning rate which can be explainable by the approximate
linear relationship with the increments in the card values. We then analyzed
a linear regression model between winning rate and card increments and the
residual plots showed a clearer scatter of points. There was a slight curve but
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Figure 8: First Segment (0-6)
this model showed a more random pattern. The r² value was 0.89 representing
the percent of the variation in the winning rate which can be explainable by
the approximate linear relationship with the increments in the card values. The
r value is 0.94 which shows a strong negative linear relationship between the
winning rate and card increments. Therefore, this proved that this segment
of the graph was a decreasing linear graph. As the card values increase in
the standard deck, the player will have a higher chance of winning. As the card
values are higher, the player will tend to bust more once hitting, thus decreasing
their winning rate.
Second Segment (6-11) The graph exhibits a distinct pattern when adding
increments of 6-11. During this segment, the graph shows a sharp increasing
linear pattern. This is logical as adding these values will put the players in
standing range. The optimal strategy is for players to stand when the sum
of their cards is from 16-21, and adding these increments will tend to put the
player in this range with the 2 cards they are dealt. Since the player is already
in the standing range, they are less likely to bust and have a better hand than
the house.
Third Segment (11-15) When adding increments from 11-15 to the standard
deck, the graph displays a somewhat horizontal line at x = 0.4. This is because
adding these increments puts the players at a sum where the player is supposed
to stand. With a similar sum, the player will follow the same optimal strategy
of what to do, leading the winning rate to be the same.
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Fourth Segment (15-20) When adding increments from 15-20 to the standard
deck, the graph displays a decreasing linear graph. This is logical since when
the cards approach larger values, it will only take one more card for the sum
of the players to exceed 21 (which will be shown in figure 2). Therefore, the
winning rate will be much lower.
Figure 9: A similar method was utilized to generate the bust rate graph.Figure
2 illustrates the correlation between the increment value of the cards and the
average number of cards it takes to bust. The increment value of cards ranges
from 0 to 20.
Notably, it seems to be a decreasing power graph up to the increment of

10. It has an asymptote at y=3. This is logical since when the cards approach
immensely large values, it only takes one more card for the sum of the players
to exceed 21. This means that it will only take 2, the cards in the player’s initial
hand, plus one extra card for a total of 3 cards. Here is a second asymptote at
x = 2. When the increments increase to such a large amount, the player’s hand
is considered an automatic bust. The graph also acts similarly to step function
when the increments are positive. This means that within a set of intervals that
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are densely packed together, they have similar bust rates.
6 Limitations and Future Studies

In typical games, blackjack consists of multiple players and multiple decks. Our
simulated rounds of blackjack used a single deck of cards and excluded rules
such as betting, splitting pairs, doubling-down, and counting cards. To expand
our analysis of blackjack player strategy with di↵erent numbers of decks, we
could include splits, which allow players to split two identical cards into two
separate hands. This would increase the player’s chances of winning. We could
also add monetary rewards after each round and determine the best strategy to
maximize earnings, benefiting those who play blackjack at casinos. Furthermore,
we could include more decks, as blackjack is usually played with multiple decks,
which could lead to a more e↵ective blackjack strategy. Additionally, coded
card counting could be incorporated, where the player keeps track of high and
low-valued cards dealt to determine when to bet more or less and change playing
decisions based on the deck composition.
Moreover, we can analyze the graphs using other methods. Currently, we
used power, linear, and exponential regression to check the correlation between
bust and win rate. We could also further analyze why the graphs give the
current shape and form, as of right now we are analyzing the graphs based on
our current knowledge.
50
Scripta Spring 2023
References
[1] Betway. (n.d.). Blackjack strategy 101: Double deck v single deck.
Retrieved from https://blog.betway.com/casino/blackjack-strategy-101-double-
deck-v-single-deck/
[2] Crescent University. (n.d.). The history of blackjack. Retrieved from
https://crescent.edu/post/the-history-of-blackjack
[3] Elling, S. (2017, July 26). Number of decks and rules matter in black-
jack. Review Fix. Retrieved from https://reviewfix.com/2017/07/number-
decks-rules -matter-blackjack/: :text=
[4] Shackleford, M. (n.d.). Why number of decks matter in blackjack. Wiz-
ard of Odds. Retrieved from https://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/why-
number -of-decks-matter/
[5] The World of Playing Cards. (n.d.). Blackjack. Retrieved from
https://www.wopc.co.uk/history-the-history-of-playing-cards
[6] United States Playing Card Company. (n.d.). How to play blackjack.
Retrieved from https://bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/blackjack/
51
SCRIPTA
ISSN: 2769-9242 Spring 2023
Circular Economy in Developing

Countries: Chile and India Cases
Sofia Vishnyakova∗
Abstract
Many people hold the notion that Earth is a dominant and powerful
entity, equipped with infinite resources and the innate ability to heal it-
self. However, the reality is quite the opposite. Climate change, plastic
pollution, and global warming are widely known issues, but have we truly
made e↵orts to find e↵ective solutions? It’s not just about participating in
protests, adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle, or reducing meat consumption
to lower carbon emissions. Instead, what we need is the emergence of an
advanced technological system on a global scale, coupled with a collective
awareness from businesses, governments, and consumers.
In this article, I aim to delve into the concept of the circular economy
(CE), exploring how di↵erent countries and companies have implemented
it, how it can contribute to combating air pollution, and why it is crucial
to reassess our familiar business patterns. There are Chile that stands for
the developed country is compared with India that stands for developing
country in this article based on the business concepts, political laws, and
the social positioning.
1 What is a Circular Economy?

The term ”circular economy” was first introduced in 1988 in the book ”The Eco-
nomics of Natural Resources.” At its core, the concept of the circular economy
revolves around creating an economic system that aims to achieve zero waste by
promoting the sharing and recycling of existing materials and products for as
long as possible. Since 2010, the idea of circular economy has gained significant
Contact: svishnyakova@fultonscienceacademy.org
52
Scripta Spring 2023
traction, and it comes as no surprise. This model o↵ers numerous benefits, such
as minimizing emissions and the consumption of raw materials, creating new
market opportunities, and enhancing overall resource efficiency.
The principles underlying the circular economy can be summarized into three
key aspects: eliminating waste and pollution, promoting the circulation of prod-
ucts and materials, and actively regenerating the natural environment (1).
The traditional linear economy model, characterized by the collection of raw
materials, their transformation into products, and their sale to consumers who
eventually dispose of them as waste, is no longer viable without serious consid-
eration for its ecological footprint. In contrast, the circular economy presents
an alternative approach where everything operates within a closed loop. This
shift towards a circular economy model leads to increased productivity, reduced
resource consumption, and prolonged utilization of materials and infrastructure.
2 Circular Econoy in Developed Countries

Developed countries, due to their advanced industries, face a more pronounced
global waste problem. The demands and values in these countries di↵er from
those in developing nations. Developed countries generally possess greater pur-
chasing power, robust infrastructure, engage in international collaborations,
have well-established laws that prioritize citizens’ welfare, and are better equipped
to implement circular economy (CE) ideas efficiently.
Several factors contribute to the growth and development of the circular
economy as an economic model. These include extending the product life cycle
through the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (3R), promoting ecological
balance and protection, leveraging the flow of big data, implementing supportive
government policies, and influencing consumer behavior (3).
Extending Product Life Cycle Using 3R
The primary objective of the 3R concept is to transition from a linear ”create-

use-discard” approach to a circular ”create-use-reuse” model. To e↵ectively ex-
tend the life cycle of products, companies adopt several components of the 3R
policy. Firstly, the implementation of Product-as-a-Services and reduce con-
sumption. By shifting from individual product ownership to providing products
as services, companies can minimize waste generation. Secondly, sustainable
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Scripta Spring 2023
consumption practices play a vital role in the 3R approach. This involves ac-
tively avoiding waste and reducing overall consumption, promoting a more re-
sponsible and mindful use of resources. Lastly, the establishment of efficient
material handling systems is crucial for closing the loop and creating a sustain-
able cycle.
Ecological Balance and Protection
“Nature is cyclical” –is the core concept of the circular economy (CE).In
other words, it emphasizes the efficient utilization and reuse of resources. Ac-
cording to Denise Lu, our current consumption patterns would require 1.7 Earths
to sustainably meet our needs (5). Developed countries, in particular, leave a
substantial environmental footprint, surpassing the available resources for their
populations, resulting in what is known as an ecological deficit. For example,
the United States accounts for 13 percent of the world’s total ecological foot-
print and holds the second largest deficit globally. Despite reducing its footprint
by 18 percent since 2005, it still surpasses that of other developed nations by a
significant margin (6). In order to achieve ecological balance, it is imperative
for humanity to focus on several key concepts. These include energy and re-
source efficiency, which involves the systematic utilization of resources during
the creation of a product to minimize wastage. Embracing renewable energy
sources reduces. The global progress in adopting clean energy technologies such
as solar, wind, and thermal power is evident. E↵ective waste management is
another crucial aspect. Waste can manifest in various forms, including solid,
liquid, or gas. To address this, it is essential to implement local infrastructure
networks and waste to energy (WTE) methodologies that efficiently handle and
process waste in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Big Data and Information Flow
Big data refers to the massive, dynamic, and continuous datasets that are
often challenging to explore and evaluate because of their complexity (7). Big
Data has been identified through the 7Vs framework (8), which includes volume
(representing the large amount of data), velocity (referring to the high speed at
which data is generated), variety (encompassing data in various forms such as
text, numeric, and videos), veracity (highlighting the inherent uncertainty asso-
ciated with data sources), volatility (indicating the storage capacity required),
and value (emphasizing the primary objective). Through this data analysis,
54
Scripta Spring 2023
companies can uncover hidden patterns and unlock the potential of circularity.
Leveraging big data can support decision-making at each stage of the product
life cycle and enable interventions in the development of more renewing and
regenerative business models.
Cloud computing, Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are piv-
otal components of the developed circular economy that have fueled the growth
of Big Data and analytics.Cloud computing technology provides the capabil-
ity to handle complex calculations required for data analysis. The Internet of
Things enables the capture of valuable data that is essential for analysis and
insights. Artificial Intelligence plays a significant role in predicting patterns of
resource usage and evaluating waste production. AI is increasingly becoming
central to accelerating and facilitating the adoption of circular economy prac-
tices.
Government Policies
Policies play a crucial role in influencing the adoption of sustainable method-

ologies. Strong regulations can provide clear guidance and direction for devel-
opment and promote sustainability. They have the power to shape how supply
chains, businesses, and energy efficiency practices operate. E↵ective policies
create an ecosystem on a large scale, something that neither companies nor
consumers can achieve individually
Consumer Behavior
Consumer behavior plays a pivotal role in shaping the adoption of sustain-

able practices and has significant psychological implications. It has the power to
influence regulatory decisions by authorities, drive movements, and create shifts
in the marketplace. Consumer behavior varies across di↵erent factors such as
ethnicity, society, education, and social class. Achieving a shift in consumer be-
havior requires targeted e↵orts in promotion, education, and influencing public
opinion.
55
Scripta Spring 2023
3 Chile’s Circular Economy Roadmap

I decided to pick Chile as an example for a developed country that is actively
working towards implementing a circular economy.Firstly, Chile is in the early
stages of integrating circular economy principles into its political and economic
models, positioning itself as the first South American country to embrace this
concept. Its territory is quite big and has the capability to produce its industrial
needs domestically. Chile’s economy is marked by a high degree of economic
freedom, with a score of 74.4 according to The Heritage Foundation’s 2022
Index. This signifies that Chile’s economy ranks as the 20th freest globally.
Background
In 2021, Chile experienced a significant economic growth, with its GDP ex-
panding by 11.7 percent, driven by robust exports of minerals, fruit, copper,
and wine. Recognizing the need to address waste disposal amidst this period
of rapid growth, the Chilean government took proactive measures. The Min-
istry of Environment (MMA), Ministry of Economy, and the Chilean Economic
Development Agency (CORFO) jointly published the Roadmap for a Circular
Chile by 2040 (12).
Over a span of two years, this initiative engaged more than 140 stakehold-
ers from the private and public sectors, civil society, and other organizations.
Extensive studies were conducted to map the key actors involved, and diverse
committees were formed to establish goals and discuss specific initiatives. Ad-
ditionally, public consultations were held to foster awareness and encourage
participation among the broader population.
The roadmap itself is designed to be regularly updated every 10 years, and
it sets forth seven core goals along with a detailed action plan. During the
development of these goals, the roadmaps of other countries were studied to
identify standard indicators that could be utilized and to assess the progress
made by nations in this domain.
Those seven goals include:
1. Generate 100,000 new green jobs by 2030, followed by a target

of 180,000 by 2040. Currently, according to the World Bank, approximately
9 million people are employed in Chile (13). The ambitious goal of creating
56
Scripta Spring 2023
such a significant number of new working opportunities signifies the country’s

commitment to fostering a sustainable and circular economy.
2. Reduce Municipal Solid Waste per capita The government aims
to achieve a 10 percent decrease by 2030 and 2 25 percent reduction by
2040. As per estimates by the Ministry of Environment (MMA), approximately
16 million tons of waste being generated annually, and only a mere 2 percent of
Municipal Solid Waste is currently being recycled (14).
3. Reduce total waste generation by 15 percent by 2030 and by 30
percent by 2040. it is important to recognize the significant costs associated
with waste collection and transportation. Currently, waste management services
in Chile are carried out by 15 companies operating throughout the country. On
average, the cost of these operations amounts to approximately USD 35 per ton
(14).
4. Increase material productivity by 30 percent by 2030, and by
60 percent by 2040. To enhance material productivity, various strategies
can be employed, including reducing the prices paid for materials, improving
the availability of suitable materials, and minimizing material consumption and
waste (15).
5. Increase the general recycling rate to 40 percent by 2030, and to
75 percent by 2040. It is essential to make recycling services easily accessible
to the public, to maximize waste separation, ban non-recyclable items, and
maximize revenue from recyclables by establishing appropriate pricing and to
make the local market reuse materials.
6. Increase MSW recycling rate to 30 percent by 2030, and to 65
percent by 2040.
7. Recover 50 percent of land a↵ected by illegal dump sites by
2030, and 90 percent by 2040. The term ”illegal” refers to the improper
disposal of waste in unauthorized areas. Chile currently has over 3,700 ille-
gal dump sites scattered throughout the country. The existence of these sites
severely impacts the living conditions of local residents.
In summary, Chile’s roadmap for a circular economy demonstrates a wise

and elaborate strategy that sets the stage for achieving climate targets and
promoting sustainable practices. With clear time frames, lessons learned from
international experiences, regional considerations, and broad stakeholder en-
gagement, Chile is well-positioned to make significant progress towards a more
sustainable and circular future.
57
Scripta Spring 2023
4 Companies Should Be Involved

The closed-loop system in a circular economy extends beyond mere recycling; it
fundamentally involves innovation and production, becoming an intrinsic part
of an organization’s DNA. Companies play a pivotal role in driving the entire
circular economy movement. What makes this particularly intriguing is that
circular policies o↵er substantial benefits to businesses, it unlocks new opportu-
nities such as getting ahead of upcoming regulation, increased security in supply
chain, innovation and competitive advantage, pricing of externalities and poten-
tial shift in taxation models (2).
E↵ective and visionary leadership from CEOs is instrumental in harnessing
the benefits of the circular economy model and driving sustainable economic
growth to new heights. By embracing a ”circular mindset,” businesses can un-
lock a plethora of opportunities, including job creation (up to 500,000 additional
jobs created in France alone), energy efficiency (in the European Union, circular
solutions could account for up to 37 percent of total energy consumption), and
greenhouse gas emissions reduction (in countries like India, adopting circular
practices could result in greenhouse gas emissions being 44 percent lower in
2050 compared to the current development trajectory).
Implementing CE thinking
The EU-LAC Foundation has conducted extensive research on Case studies

on Circular Economy, shedding light on the implementation of circular economy
thinking (12). In light of this, I would like to share a conclusion drawn from
their eight-step guide, which can serve as a valuable resource for businesses and
organizations embarking on their circular economy strategies.. The first step for
companies is to assess and map their current status in relation to the circular
economy so they can identify areas for improvement and set realistic goals for
their circular economy journey(develop a business case, define circular economy
vision). The successful implementation of circular economy strategies requires
cooperation and engagement at all levels of the organization. Senior manage-
ment should be fully aware of the objectives and actively support the transition
towards a circular model. It is equally important to engage key stakeholders,
including employees, suppliers, and customers, to ensure their understanding
and commitment to circularity. There are many innovative business models
that can help companies begin their path(2). For example, the concept of Cir-
58
Scripta Spring 2023
cular Supplies promotes the use of renewable energy and recyclable inputs, such
as bio-based materials and biocatalysis. Companies like General Motors have
made substantial commitments to renewable energy, aiming to achieve 100 per-
cent usage by 2035. Another example is the Sharing Platform model, which
connects users of a product and encourages them to share its use. Companies
like Uber and Airbnb have built successful businesses based on the idea of access
or temporary ownership, demonstrating the potential of this model.
5 Why Is It Hard to Make CE Work in Devel-

oping Countries?
Implementing the principles of the circular economy can pose challenges in de-
veloping countries, as they often undergo rapid economic and societal trans-
formations. While extensive research has been conducted on the actions of
high-income countries towards sustainable development, the topic becomes more
complex when addressing emerging economies.
India: Background
Recognizing the significant environmental challenges posed by the most de-
veloped economies, the Indian government has taken proactive steps towards
embracing the circular economy model and making more sustainable decisions.
This shift holds immense potential for India, with projected annual benefits
of 624 billion US Dollars by 2050 compared to the current development path,
equivalent to 30 percent of India’s GDP. These findings are based on a com-
prehensive economic analysis conducted by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation,
focusing on three key areas: cities and construction, food and agriculture, and
mobility and vehicle manufacturing. In addition to the economical benefits for
households and businesses, by adopting circular economy principles in areas
such as cities and construction, food and agriculture, and mobility and vehi-
cle manufacturing, India can achieve a 44 percent reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions by 2050 compared to the current trajectory. India’s rapid economic
growth over the past two decades has resulted in a substantial urban popula-
tion. By 2008, approximately 340 million people were already residing in urban
areas, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the total population. Over the next
two decades, urban India is expected to generate 70 percent of all new jobs,
which are projected to be twice as productive as equivalent jobs in the rural
59
Scripta Spring 2023
sector (11). With an average annual economic growth rate of 7.4 percent in the
last decade, India is poised to become the world’s fourth-largest economy within
the next 20 years (10).
Cases for circular economy; key insights
1.Businesses can unlock material cost savings and enhance their profitability
by embracing circular economy approaches. A prime example of this is the shift
from traditional car sales to providing vehicles as a service. By transitioning
to a vehicle service model, the car industry can not only generate new revenue
streams but also increase the overall value derived from each automobile.
2. Embracing a circular economy development path has the potential to sig-
nificantly mitigate negative environmental e↵ects, particularly in the context of
India. By implementing circular economy principles, greenhouse gas emissions
can be reduced by 23 percent in 2030 and by 44 percent in 2050, aligning with
India’s commitments under the Paris Agreement. The construction industry
would play a crucial role in achieving these targets by adopting circular econ-
omy practices. Through the use of renewable materials and the implementation
of recycling and waste management strategies, the construction sector can sig-
nificantly reduce its environmental impact.Similarly, the adoption of circular
economy principles in the mobility sector can have a profound impact on energy
consumption in transportation. By transitioning to more sustainable modes of
transportation and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, energy consumption in the
sector can be reduced by 33 percent in 2030 and by 66 percent in 2050.
3.The adoption of a circular economy in India has the potential to deliver
significant benefits to the population, including cheaper products and services,
as well as reduced pollution. By embracing circular economy principles, the
cost of services for each citizen would decrease, resulting in increased disposable
income. The lower costs could also help India implement di↵erent initiatives
such as the National Food Security Mission. A circular development path could
lead to a 38 percent decrease in vehicle kilometers traveled on roads by 2050.
4. Leveraging digital technology. The development of a circular economy
relies heavily on a strong foundation of technology and innovation. With the
application of advanced technologies and innovative solutions, various sectors
such as food systems, supply chains, and sharing platforms can unlock significant
benefits.
5. India can avoid getting locked into a linear model. As India becomes
60
Scripta Spring 2023
increasingly interconnected with the global market, there is a risk of becoming

locked into a basic linear economic model.
Opportunities
1.Cities and Construction. In the construction industry, key principles of the

circular economy include the use of renewable and recycled materials, as well as
designing buildings to be adaptable and efficient throughout their lifecycle.
When applying circular economy principles to construction, buildings can be
designed to accommodate changes in energy generation and usage, and integrate
with nutrient cycling systems. Various methods can be employed to enhance
the efficiency of urban structures, such as constructing buildings for energy and
water efficiency, promoting the multi-use of space, and implementing strategies
for the circular flow of construction materials.
2. Food and agriculture. To foster sustainability and resilience in this sec-
tor, e↵orts are being made to adopt circular economy principles, particularly
in closing nutrient loops. This approach provides a framework for preserving
natural capital, enhancing ecological flexibility, and establishing a stable supply
chain. It could implement digital knowledge sharing, also digitized food supply
chains, urban farming, and returning nutrients to the agricultural system.
3. Mobility and vehicle manufacturing. India is projected to become the
world’s third-largest vehicle market by 2030, following Chile and the US (18).
To support sustainable growth in this sector, the application of circular econ-
omy principles can play a crucial role. Several strategies can be employed,
including the adoption of vehicle-as-a-service models, promoting remanufactur-
ing practices, reducing the reliance on virgin materials, and encouraging the
development of zero-emission propulsion technology. Given the relatively low
car ownership rates in India, the adoption of circular economy principles in the
automotive sector has the potential to be rapid and transformative.
6 How to Make Circular Economy Work in De-

veloping Countries
Taking into account the previous discussions, it is evident that there is no spe-
cific ”start point” within the closed loop involving consumers, businesses, and
61
Scripta Spring 2023
governments. While the government often plays a crucial role in initiating the
loop, its e↵ectiveness relies on the awareness and understanding of the other two
components regarding the importance of collaboration. In the journey towards
a circular economy, there are certain factors that can facilitate the transition for
emerging economies compared to their developed counterparts. These factors
stem from the inherent opportunity for advancement that emerging economies
possess in the present moment.
As countries undergo development, they possess a unique advantage in terms
of the ease with which they can change their trajectory. The ability to shape
their path and establish a foundation for innovation is more attainable, particu-
larly for developing countries that have the opportunity to build their economies
from the ground up based on the principles of the circular economy. In develop-
ing countries, informal recycling systems already exist, with small organizations
playing a crucial role in peripheral collection, recycling, and occasional material
sales. Governments have a unique opportunity to not only change direction but
also shape public opinion more easily. Unlike in established democracies, devel-
oping countries often have less robust political opposition and a greater capacity
to promote and influence ideas. The circular economy model o↵ers governments
the opportunity to rethink their economic and political systems by reducing
the overall cost of materials, which makes it highly appealing. Many develop-
ing countries draw inspiration from the agricultural sector, which is inherently
connected to nature and often less influenced by industrialization. There are
numerous opportunities to explore and capitalize on including peri-urban and
urban farming.
What government controls?
Laws. A notable example is the United States and the Inflation Reduction
Act. This comprehensive legislation encompasses various aspects, including the
taxation of large corporations, energy security measures, and investments in
combating climate change. With regards to the environment, this bill has the
potential to catalyze the transition to clean energy.
Standards. EPP (Environmentally Preferable Purchasing) rules are es-

tablished to regulate water and energy efficiency, recycling processes, and the
minimization of pollution, among other factors.
62
Scripta Spring 2023
Investment. Government is the biggest investor in this system and has the
potential to significantly transform the game. While it shouldn’t excessively
interfere with the marketplace, it can establish funds and specialized organi-
zations to support the development of new technologies and pave the way for
entrepreneurs. By providing financial resources and creating a favorable ecosys-
tem, the government can stimulate innovation and drive the transition towards
a circular economy.
Education plays a crucial role in the transition to a circular economy.

Firstly, it raises awareness among citizens about the ongoing or impending
changes, allowing them to understand and actively contribute to the transition.
Secondly, education serves as the foundation for future generations, equipping
them with the knowledge and skills to drive innovation and shape new regula-
tions. Governments can play a key role by formulating research questions and
studying how the circular economy has been implemented in other countries.
Promotion. Mass media is often influenced by various sectors of the gov-

ernment, and can fulfill the requirements and interests of di↵erent government
departments. The media’s coverage and promotion of initiatives such as Chile’s
Roadmap, for example, contribute to raising awareness and generating public
interest in the circular economy.
Business
Inventions. Businesses play a crucial role in driving the concept of the

closed loop economy. They create supply chains, construct new structures and
adopt advanced technologies.
Collaboration with policymakers and informal economy. Participa-

tion in cross-value-chain networks can help businesses to drive a change they
cannot create on their own (9).
Working on the demand. Demand in the circular economy is influenced

by a combination of factors, including the international agenda, government
regulations, and marketplace trends. Businesses play a crucial role as the driving
force behind the implementation of circular practices.
63
Scripta Spring 2023
The basis for economy. Businesses play a vital role in society by con-
tributing to economic growth, job creation, and global collaboration.
Consumers/Citizens. The cultural aspect plays a significant role in the

successful implementation of a circular path, influenced by factors such as the
availability of information, personal beliefs, and the existing products and ser-
vices within a society. The government’s promotion and domestic political at-
titudes can also impact cultural shifts.
Consumers create the demand. The mindset and preferences of cus-
tomers significantly influence the future direction of businesses and the applica-
tion of innovative solutions.
Wise consuming. consumers are encouraged to adopt a mindful approach

to their purchasing decisions. It goes beyond simply buying environmentally
friendly products that have low greenhouse gas emissions or are made from
sustainable materials. It also involves considering the entire lifecycle of the
products and ensuring they are recycled.
Active political position. The political landscape in some countries may

present challenges in implementing new ideas due to limited political parties and
diverse opinions. However, the global context is evolving, and emerging coun-
tries are embracing new approaches. Taking an active political stance involves
engaging in various activities such as voting in local, state, or national elections,
participating in protests, and making donations to support causes. These ac-
tions contribute to the interaction with policymakers and the establishment of
laws that align with contemporary needs.
64
Scripta Spring 2023
References
[1] Ellen MacArthur Foundation. “What is a circular economy?” available at

¡https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction
/overview¿
[2] World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). “CEO
guide to circular economy”
[3] Patwa N., Sivarajah U., Seetharaman A., Sarkar S., Maiti K., Hingorani
K., (2021). “Towards a Circular Economy: an Emerging Economies Context”.
Journal of Business Research. 122:725-735
[4] De Angelis R., Howard M., Miemczyk J., (2018). “Supply Chain Man-
agement and the Circular Economy: Toward the Circular Supply Chain”. Pro-
duction Planning and Control. 29:425-437
[5] Lu D., (2017). “We Would Need 1,7 Earth to Make Our Consumption
Sustainable” available at ¡https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/world
/ecological-footprint/?noredirect=onutmterm=.ecdbea662452¿
[6] Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. “U.S. Emissions” available at
¡https://www.c2es.org/content/u-s-emissions/¿
[7] Kamble S., Belhadi A., Gunasekaran A., Ganapathy L., Verma S., (2021).
“A large multi-group decision-making technique for prioritizing the big data-
driven circular economy practices in the automobile component manufacturing
industry”. Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 165
[8] Belhadi A., Zkik K., Cherrafi A., Sha’ri M., (2019). “Understanding Big
Data analytics for Manufacturing Processes: Insights from Literature Review
and Multiple Case Studies”. Comput. Ind. Eng. 137 Article 106099
[9] Ellen MacArthur Foundation. “Circular economy in India: Rethinking
growth for long-term prosperity”
[10] French Ministry of Foreign A↵airs and International Development, 2016.
“Présentation de l’Inde’” available at http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/ dossiers-
pays/inde/presentation-de-l-inde/.
[11] McKinsey Global Institute, 2016. “India’s Urban Awakening: Building
Inclusive Cities, Sustaining Economic Growth”.
[12] Ellen MacArthur Foundation. “Chile’s Circular Economy Roadmap:
collaboration for a shared action plan” available at ¡https://emf.thirdlight.com
/file/24/kLSzgopkLg-9DoTkLb8BkB5ygDV/Case20Studies20
[13] World Bank. Labor, force, total available at ¡https://data.worldbank.org
65
Scripta Spring 2023
/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.IN?locations=CL¿
[14] Holland Circular Hotspot, 2021. “Waste Management Country Report:
Chile” available at ¡https://hollandcircularhotspot.nl/wp-content/uploads
/2021/04/ReportW asteM anagementC hile2 0210322.pdf.
[15] Productivity and Quality Management: A Modular Programme - Part
II: High Potential Productivity and Quality Improvement Areas (APO - ILO,
1997, 630 p.)
[16] Huemer M., (2020). “Leadership and Change Management – in Con-
text to Circular Economy and Recycling Initiatives in the European Plastic
Industry”. Humanities and Social Science: Latvia. 28:1
[17] World Bank, World Development Indicators, Employment in agriculture
(percentage of total employment), 2013 data
[18] EMIS, Automotive Sector India, 2015
[19] General Motors Commits to 100 percent Renewable Energy. Avail-
able at ¡https://michiganbattleofthebuildings.org/general-motors-commits-100-
renewable-energy/¿
[20] Halog A., Anieke S., (2021). “A Review of Circular Economy Studies
in Developed Countries and Its Potential Adoption in Developing Countries”.
Circular economy and Sustainability. 1:209-230
[21] Kneese, Allen V., (1988). “The Economics of Natural Resources”. Pop-
ulation and Development Review. 14:281-309
[22] Rogge K., Reichardt K., (2016). “Policy Mixes for Sustainability Tran-
sitions: an Extended Concept and Framework for Analysis Research Policy”.
Research Policy. 45:1620-1635
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Aim & Scope

Scripta is a peer-reviewed academic journal published semiannually by Fulton Science Academy

Alumni Advisory Board

Teacher Advisory Board

Book Review Editors

Eesa Abdulraouf Isra Hussain Mustafa Najam

Conflict in the Crimea Through the Eyes of the Onlooker: Socio- 1

Is Social Media Scientifically Impacting the Brain of Users? 23

Understanding the Psychology of Suicide and Suicidal Behavior 29

How Player Winning Rates and Average Cards to Bust are 39

Circular Economy in Developing Countries: Chile and India Cases 52

Conflict in the Crimea Through the

1 The Holy Sepulchre

significance to Christians, as they represent the death, burial, and resurrection

2 Religious Fervor and Competition

by Orthodox pilgrims at the Holy Sepulchre on Good Friday,“I could not go to

3 Tensions in the Holy Land

Figure 5: Adapted from Roberto Morgenthaler. Modern-day replacement of the

Figure 6: From “International and particular straits regime.” The Dardanelles

in the following years. Nicholas’ intervention in the Balkan principalities and

[1] Antonetti, G. (1994). Louis-Philippe. Fayard.

[18] Seymour to Russell, Letter, February 10, 1853, FO 65/424.

Is Social Media Scientifically Impacting

In recent years, social media has gained immense popularity among

∗ Sophomore Student, Fulton Science Academy.

1 Science behind the addiction to social media

2 Impacts of Social Media in Mental Health

3 E↵ects of Social Media on Concentration

as the constant presence of the device unconsciously a↵ects focus by keeping

4 How the Impact and risks of Social Media

Understanding The Psychology of

1 Major Factors of Suicide

is directly correlated with an increased likelihood of a completed suicide.. As

such as depression, bipolar I disorder, and bipolar II depressive disorder. Ac-

2 Major People At Risk

contributing to a high rate of suicide among adolescents and young adults,

Victims of childhood abuse are also at risk of suicide. Childhood abuse

lacking access to adequate healthcare, specifically mental health or substance

How Player Winning Rates and Average

2.3 Optimal Strategy

We started by defining lists and variables:

Figure 3: The code segment above is the draw function.

Figure 8: First Segment (0-6)

Notably, it seems to be a decreasing power graph up to the increment of

are densely packed together, they have similar bust rates.

6 Limitations and Future Studies

Circular Economy in Developing

1 What is a Circular Economy?

2 Circular Econoy in Developed Countries

Extending Product Life Cycle Using 3R

The primary objective of the 3R concept is to transition from a linear ”create-

Big Data and Information Flow

Policies play a crucial role in influencing the adoption of sustainable method-

Consumer behavior plays a pivotal role in shaping the adoption of sustain-

3 Chile’s Circular Economy Roadmap

Those seven goals include:

1. Generate 100,000 new green jobs by 2030, followed by a target

such a significant number of new working opportunities signifies the country’s

In summary, Chile’s roadmap for a circular economy demonstrates a wise

4 Companies Should Be Involved

The EU-LAC Foundation has conducted extensive research on Case studies

5 Why Is It Hard to Make CE Work in Devel-

Cases for circular economy; key insights